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President Ilves to the Georgian Prime Minister: the key to success is not aid, but trade

Tuesday, 08 May 2007 18:46

“Georgia’s economic growth has been impressive and I am sure that its sustainability will be guaranteed by future reforms,” said President Toomas Hendrik Ilves at a meeting with Georgian Prime Minister, Zurab Nogaideli, in Tbilisi today. “In addition to the promotion of traditional branches of the economy, more attention needs to be paid to new sectors, such as the promotion of a knowledge-based economy.”

The Estonian Head of State said that he welcomes the efforts of the Georgian government in finding new markets, in order to reduce the great dependency of Georgian producers on the Russian market.

“Estonia’s economic success is based on a competitive and transparent economy, and therefore, we support the principle “not aid but trade”,” said President Ilves.

He also emphasized that the existence of a politically stable civil and legal environment, along with all the associated freedoms and responsibilities, is important to guarantee the economic success of Georgia.

“Among other things, this means a system of standards and certificates that corresponds to European Union requirements, otherwise normal export is not possible,” said the Estonian Head of State. “Investments must also be protected and all business activity must move smoothly as prescribed by law.”

Speaking about energy and energy security, President Ilves praised Georgia for being able to disconnect itself from energy-related dependency on Russia, by achieving agreements with Turkey that guarantee the necessary gas supplies. Also, in connection with the construction of the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan petroleum pipeline and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum gas pipeline, Georgia has become an important transit country for Caspian petroleum and gas.

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