QBA Chairman Receives The Georgian Ambassador
The Chairman of Qatari Businessmen Association Shiekh Faisal Bin Qassim AL Thani received H.E Mrs Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze , the Ambassador of Georgia to the e of Qatar at his Majlis in Doha on the 20th of November, 2010. The visit aimed at discussing various investment opportunities and bilateral economic relationships between the two countries.
Shiekh Faisal Bin Qassim AL Thani provided her Excellency with information on the investment and cooperation opportunities available in Qatar. H.E Mrs Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze presented to QBA chairmen the incentive of investing in Georgia such as low taxation, free hold land ownership for foreigners, government support, trade zones, and banking facilities.
Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts; mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector producing metals, machinery, aircraft and chemicals. In addition, the country GDP growth slowed to 2.1% in 2008 following the conflict with Russia in August 2008, and the economy contracted by about 7% in 2009 as foreign direct investment and workers' remittances declined during the global financial crisis.
The UAE is on the top of the list of foreign investors in Georgia, by investing in agriculture, industry and tourism sectors. On the other hand, Kuwait is also showing great interest in the country by investing in the banking and real estate sectors.
The relationship between Qatar and Georgia witnessed a strong dynamism after the visit of H.E Mr. Mikheil Saakashvili to Qatar in November 2009; followed by the visit of the Georgian prime minister in late February this year, both visits had a significant effect on the bilateral economic relationship. Moreover, Qatari companies have already shown interest to make investments in Georgia in the sectors of real estate, and agriculture.
At the end of the meeting H.E the ambassador invited the QBA chairman and the association members to visit Georgia to further discover the investment opportunities of the country.