BUSINESS
GEORGIA TODAY JUNE 4 - 6, 2019
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11th Local Economic Development Forum in Tbilisi We have many good examples of how the private and public sector can work together and implement important projects for the city and the country. The representatives of the business sector will discuss how many interesting projects have been implemented through such efforts.” Kaladze also affirmed his administration’s openness and readiness to address the key challenges of the city. “No one is happy with how our city has developed over the past 20-25 years. With urban development we have serious problems and [our strategy] needs to be adjusted. Concrete steps have already been taken
Image source: Tbilisi City Hall
BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE
O
n Friday, May 31, the 11th Local Economic Development Forum was held in Tbilisi at the newly renovated Sheraton Grand Metechi Palace Hotel. The forum, which began in 2007, was organized by the Tbilisi City Hall Economic Development Service. This year the theme was ‘Strong Economy – Strong City,’ following the previous forum’s theme ‘Progressive Cities.’ Participants of the forum included government representatives, private sector business leaders, representatives from international financial institutions,
and sector experts. Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze opened the forum with an address to the crowd, thanking the attendees for being “very supportive in helping us respond to the challenges that people are worried about today.” The forum began with a session on Urban Development Strategy, as, said Kaladze, “It is impossible to evaluate the economic potential of the city without the unified context of urban development.” He continued, “Tbilisi has undoubtedly great economic potential, but in order for it to be properly used, we need to make evidence-based decisions and share successful experiences. Such Forums encourage this. The development of economic cooperation between the public and private sectors is the precondition for economic development.
in this direction. We have adopted a general plan that is a document of strategic importance on which the city’s proper development should be based. I understand that what has been damaged and spoiled is difficult to correct at this point, but the main thing is to work now correctly, and avoid mistakes in the future. Therefore, the involvement of experts sharing the experience of international financial organizations is very important. We are actively cooperating in the fields of urban planning, transport policy, and ecology to fix the existing situation,” said the mayor. Among topics discussed were issues
of urban development and modern trends that are being debated and tested in some of the most innovative and successful cities around the world. Heads of international financial institutions also made remarks, including World Bank Regional Director for the South Caucasus, Mercy Tembon; European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, Regional Director for the Caucasus, Catarina Bjorlin Hansen; Director of the Asian Development Bank Mission in Georgia, Yesim Elhan-Kayalar; and the European Investment Bank Regional Head for the South Caucasus, Maciej Czura.