The FINANCIAL — “The EU and France are doing their best to attract investors to Georgia. It is in our mutual interest to attract investors from EU member countries, as Georgia has got huge potential for investors. That is why I am glad to announce that a delegation of 20 companies is arriving on Monday, November 16 in Tbilisi,” Eric Furnier, Ambassador of France to Georgia, told The FINANCIAL.
Mr. Furnier underlined the main risk that foreign investors face in Georgia. “It is linked to a lack of safety for private property, the shortcomings of the judiciary system and the arbitrary approach of the so-called fiscal police. Recently many local and foreign companies had to cope with a very aggressive and often unfair attitude of fiscal agents, who are discouraging investors from continuing to look for opportunities in Georgia,” Mr. Furnier says.
“In order to become integrated in the European Union Georgia should pay attention to the environmental, sanitary and economical norms. Georgia should reassess its relationship and overcome the problems with its neighbours, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey,” Mr. Furnier notes.
In an exclusive interview with The FINANCIAL, Mr. Furnier says that “The number of French investments in Georgia is a few hundred million USD, but it is not enough yet!”
Q. What is the role of the EU in the global system of international relations of Georgia and what should be the top priorities of Georgian foreign policy that this country should pursue?
A. The EU has a particular interest in Georgia, as Georgia in the future can serve as a link between East and West in general. In its policy towards integration into the EU, Georgia should pass several steps. It should pay attention to the environmental, sanitary and economical norms. Georgia should reassess its relationship with its neighbouring countries. Georgia should overcome the problems with its neighbours, including Armenia, Azerbaijan and Turkey, and consider the potential of its relationship with Iran, as well as its neighbours on the other side of the Black sea. The Eastern Partnership launched by the EU earlier this year might in this context play an important role.
Q. In November 2009 the delegation of French businessmen will pay a visit to Georgia. Please tell us, the representatives of which companies will pay a visit to Georgia? Who was the initiator of the businessmen’s visit?
A. The EU and France are doing their best to attract investors to Georgia. It is in our mutual interest to attract investors from EU member countries, as Georgia has got huge potential for investors. That is why I am glad to announce that a delegation of 20 companies is arriving Monday, November 16 in Tbilisi. The main goal of these businessmen’s visit is to analyze the business climate in Georgia and study the potential for doing business and investing in Georgia. They will meet ministers and businessmen over three days. We are focused on attracting as many investors to Georgia as is possible.
Q. What is the total sum of French investments in Georgia?
A. A few hundred million USD, which is not yet enough!
Q. What are the main risks that investors face in Georgia?
A. The main risk is linked to a lack of safety for private property, the shortcomings of the judiciary system and the arbitrary approach of the so-called fiscal police. Recently, many local and foreign companies had to cope with a very aggressive and often unfair attitude of fiscal agents, who are discouraging investors from continuing to look for opportunities in Georgia. I will come back to this specific point in the coming days. The European Union ambassadors have already started addressing this issue at an official level.
Q. What is your advice, what should Georgia do to increase foreign investors’ interest?
A. Georgia should launch a process of transparency as far as administrative approach to foreign and local investments are concerned. On too many occasions, have the ambassadors of western countries been informed about the pressures against their companies’ interests, and that is a matter of concern.
Q. What is your interpretation of Talyavin’s document?
A. The report of Heidi Talyavin is comprehensive and very interesting. Unfortunately, many newspapers decided to focus on some elements of the report, dropping a lot of fundamental issues, such as the ethnic cleansing committed by the occupying forces, especially after the signature of the cease-fire plan by the parties. I was told that some NGO’s are thinking about translating the report in the Georgian language in order to allow Georgian citizens to judge things themselves. The dramatic events of August 2008 are now part of the long history of Georgia. We must make sure that such an event does not occur again and, as Mrs. Talyavin rightly reported, we should improve the mechanisms of conflict prevention.
Q. What will the challenges be for diplomats and those involved in international relations over the next decade?
A. The main challenges for diplomats in the coming years will be to address the issues of the environment, access of large populations to drinking water, mostly in areas deprived of abundant water, and access to durable goods, such as education, health and a safe environment. In this regard, the upcoming summit about the environment and global warming, scheduled in Copenhagen in December 2009, is a key moment for the international community. We must make sure that the world we are “borrowing from our children”, will remain safe and pure of any major pollution.
Q. Last week you arranged a meeting with the students of Caucasus University (CU) and discussed several subjects with them. What was your main advice for the students, what should they do to become real professionals in their respective careers?
A. My advice to them would be first to acquire knowledge of classical literature, history and geography. They should develop their sense of self criticism and become independent in their own reflections about reality.
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