Georgia Aims to Become Top 3 Business-Friendly Nation by 2024 – PM Kobakhidze at UN

Reuters

Georgia is on course to rank among the world’s top three business-friendly countries by 2024, alongside Singapore and Estonia. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze made this announcement during his speech at the United Nations conference, where he outlined Georgia’s long-term vision for economic development and regional connectivity.

According to Kobakhidze, this recognition is the result of years of consistent reforms that have strengthened the country’s regulatory environment, improved public services, and significantly reduced the tax burden. “Georgia now ranks first in the Rule of Law Index among Eastern Europe and Central Asia and holds one of the lowest tax rates globally at just 9.95 percent,” he noted.

However, Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia’s ambitions go beyond improving business rankings. The country is positioning itself as a multifunctional and multi-directional hub that connects continents, markets, and ideas. Central to this vision is Georgia’s role in the Middle Corridor — a strategic trade route that links Asia and Europe.

To support this, Georgia is advancing several key infrastructure projects. These include the East-West Expressway, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway, the Anaklia Deepwater Port, and a network of dry ports. According to the Prime Minister, these developments are designed to enhance Georgia’s connectivity, reduce transit costs, and open new markets not just for Georgia, but for the entire region.

“Our goal is not to be a mere transit country,” Kobakhidze said. “We are working to become an active participant in the regional value chain by developing services like warehousing, processing, assembly, and distribution. This will allow Georgia to add value at every stage of trade operations.”

Kobakhidze stressed that Georgia’s approach offers broader benefits for neighboring countries, especially landlocked nations that face challenges in accessing global markets. By providing reliable and efficient transit routes, Georgia aims to contribute to regional stability and economic growth, while also strengthening the resilience of global supply chains.

In conclusion, the Prime Minister called on international partners to deepen cooperation and turn shared geographical challenges into opportunities for mutual prosperity. “Georgia is committed to being a reliable partner and a gateway that helps integrate landlocked developing countries into the global economy,” he said.

The Georgian government sees this strategy as a mutually beneficial model that will create jobs domestically and generate tangible economic gains for the wider region.

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