The FINANCIAL — The Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) is resolved to contribute to Georgia in the development of business and cultural exchange, and promote the Belt and Road with combined efforts from the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others. The Chairman of SRCIC considers Georgia to be a very attractive destination for investments. Accordingly, he is spreading the message that Georgia is a good destination for investments – not only to the SRCIC’s 38 member states, but to the whole world.
The Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce was founded less than a year ago. It has 36 founding members. They are the chambers of commerce from different countries. Millions of enterprises along the Silk Road are expected to join. The SRCIC recently welcomed the Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, among many others that have joined the SRCIC. More than 60 chambers of commerce from the Belt and Road countries are expected to join SRCIC by the end of 2016.
In April Tbilisi hosted a SRCIC delegation, during which time meetings with officials were also on the agenda. The Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) and the SRCIC delegation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to allow the Georgian organisation to become a member of the SRCIC.
The deal means Georgia’s business society is now able to develop partnerships with other international commercial networks involved in the SRCIC. Furthermore, head of GCCI Nino Chikovani is now vice president of SRCIC.
“Focusing on the strategy of ‘one belt and one road’, the SRCIC is promoting the establishment of a positive, open, efficient and convenient economic channel to create an opportunity and platform of common prosperity and regional economic cooperation among countries along the Silk Road,” said Nino Chikovani, Head of GCCI.
SRCIC started this process from Georgia and this fact once again underlines the importance of our country’s historical role as a gateway between Europe and Asia,” she added.
“The reason why we chose Georgia as the first stop for our road show is firstly because the strategy development of Georgia is in line with the Silk Road. Georgia not only has the history with the ancient Silk Road but is also developing into a modern corridor that connects Europe and Asia. So, the country is in line with, not only Silk Road, but also the initiative of China. The second issue is the social-economic Development Strategy of the country, ‘Georgia 2020’. The political situation in Georgia is very stable. It also has prosperity in economic development and its social status is improving. I think that with the 2020 planning strategy Georgia will enjoy a very bright future and also support China’s strategy. We have many business opportunities for all our members of SRCIC. I would like to integrate the resources also in technology and talent that will support the development of a better future,” Lu Jianzhong, Chairman at the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC), told The FINANCIAL.
According to Lu, “SRCIC has brought together the resources and strengths of its member states and accomplished a grand platform that boosts collaborations in productivity and projects, and improves international cultural exchange. We uphold the principles of openness, equity and fairness, and adhere to joint discussion, joint development and sharing resources, so that win-win, multi-win and all-win can be realized.”
“We are resolved to contribute to Georgia in the development of business and cultural exchange, and promote the Belt and Road with combined efforts from the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry among others. This year, the SRCIC is to set up three committees, namely the Finance Committee, Trade Committee and Culture Committee. In addition, on the basis of the eSilkRoad, it sets out to build four platforms, which are eSilk (business social network and consulting platform); International Commerce Platform; Cross-border Investment and Financial Platform; and Culture Exchange Platform. On these platforms, members are provided with value-added services like cross-border e-commerce and cross-border payment and settlement. Together, they form an all-round, one-stop platform that facilitates and promotes international trade, finance and investment, information and culture exchange. As a result, practical cooperation on productivity, finance, resources and talents will be enhanced. And it’s a huge leap to attaining clear channels of communication on policy making, infrastructure, trade and investment, financing and banking, and between peoples,” he said.
Lu believes that the political strategies in Georgia encourage a reputation of openness. Accordingly, he believes that the future of Georgia will get better and better. In accordance with that, as he said, the upcoming elections in Georgia will not affect their strategies towards this country.
“We are now seeking potential cooperation opportunities in Georgia. I definitely want to participate in construction in Georgia and I also want to promote this country. All of the investments and opportunities I provided to our member states are based on the principles of openness, fairness and also win-win, multi-win and all-win,” Lu said.
The SRCIC has established the Silk Road Think Tank by bringing together chairs of member chambers, business leaders, experts and scholars, and think tanks from its member states. “It caters to the members with macro information about policies, trade, society and culture. Analysis on macro-environment can also be provided in written reports to member states as guidance and reference in their decision making concerning investment and commercial operations in different nations.”
Furthermore, the SRCIC has set up the Silk Road International Development Fund. “It works in a mutually reinforcing way with the Think Tank and provides, on a micro level, feasibility reports and financial support on projects. The Silk Road International Development Fund endeavours to coordinate with governments and private capital, integrate global resources, deepen regional cooperation and expand the field of cooperation. Thus, the implementation of projects can be accelerated, resource and capacity allocation improved, and efficiency of communication increased. Thus the cooperation turns out more fruitful,” said Lu.
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