The Anaklia Deep Sea Port is a great opportunity, - said Acting Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, Philip Reeker, in an exclusive comment with Europe Time.
„It is a great opportunity there. Create the environment and if it's for the attraction of investors they will come. This is an investment opportunity. That is why we want to help and support at this moment, "said Philip Reeker.
As for the issue of the free trade agreement with the United States. Philip Reeker answered a question by Europe Time in this regard.
According to Philip Reeker, strengthening the rule of law and reforms are very important elements that will help Georgia become attractive for international trade.
"We appreciate Georgia's desire to boost trade relations with the United States. To do this, it is very important to continue the course of reforms. Among them, the implementation of the April 19 agreement and, consequently, the creation of a more attractive environment for international trade, in which the rule of law plays a very big part. As you know, the issue of free trade is the prerogative of the American Trade Representative. But I want to mention that in this process it is very important to develop a transparent business environment, and this process is going on between them, with our help as well", - said Philip Reeker.
„We should encourage more direct investment in Georgia. One would be infrastructure, a particular port project, which is a huge opportunity for infrastructure investment. But also, there are so many other opportunities in agriculture and other commodities, including mining, including manufacturing, said Senator Rob Portman in an exclusive interview with Europe Time.
He stressed that it is extremely important that more countries invest in Georgia.
„I hope more American companies will do so. One reason some companies are concerned is because of the judicial system. So that is one reason the Judiciary System is important: it provides an opportunity for more prosperity for all Georgians because more foreign investments mean more jobs. One would be infrastructure, a particular port project which is a huge opportunity for infrastructure investment. But also, there are so many other opportunities in agriculture and other commodities, including mining, including manufacturing. So I think there is a great opportunity for more investment here to help Georgian people.
Investment is good and we should encourage more direct investment in Georgia, but also more trade. So Georgia's top trade partner is Turkey, and its second is Russia.
The United States is a very small part of that, so we need to figure out how to have more supply chains come in from Georgia to America or more exports to America and vice versa. Because I was involved as a United States Trade Representative, that is something I will be working on personally. I hope we can expand our trade-in addition to direct investment, "said Senator Rob Portman in an exclusive comment with Europe Time.
