Celebrating the Success of AmCham’s Magazine

The 100th issue of Investor.ge is another impressive milestone for AmCham. Last year, on our 25th anniversary, we noted that AmCham’s impact has been considerable over its long history. Founded at a time of adversity, the magazine was an early part of AmCham’s offering. Quickly, it became not only a means for us to communicate to our members, but an impressive and independent source of business and economic news for the country as a whole.

This evolution was probably inevitable. An independent and fact-driven press has always been a cornerstone of American democracy and business development, so contributing to that media environment was clearly a natural role for AmCham.

Over the years, we have covered more or less every corner of the Georgian economy—every type of Georgian business and many other topics of interest to our English-speaking and West-leaning readership.

This has included cornerstones of the Georgian economy, like the transformation of the tourism business into a major driver of Georgia’s economic growth; the growth and public listings in the financial service sector; and the recent growth in start-ups and technology-oriented companies.

We have also covered almost every area where there have been changes in the regulatory environment—from the dramatic shifts in tax-policy and tax-implementation, to the many (often stalled) efforts at judicial reform and the root-and-branch changes of government administration.

In all of these areas we have benefitted not only from a dedicated team of editors and journalists, but the input and insight of our members. This has allowed us to offer a level of expertise and practical insight on almost any business subject that would have been impossible for other organizations.

We have also focused on the major shifts in the economy and the opportunities and challenges we have faced. From political changes to war and financial crashes and recovery, we have been proud to offer reliable information and far-sighted commentary.

In recent times, this focus has shifted to the opportunities offered by potential EU membership. By looking at historic examples, we have been able to demonstrate the huge benefits that are offered to the economy by joining the EU. We have also been able to communicate AmCham’s enthusiasm for the EU membership project as it aligns entirely with our democratic, business and pro-Western instincts.

Moving forward, we will continue in this vein. Over the last 100 issues of Investor.ge, the economy and the country of Georgia have transformed, westernizing and modernizing in the process. Investor.ge has supported that trend by communicating the experiences and insights of the business people who were crucial to the changes. In the next 100 issues, we will continue to support this direction of economic transformation as it brings Georgia closer to its natural European home.

Sincerely yours,

Irakli Baidashvili,
AmCham Georgia President