POST PANDEMIC ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA

Third Session

12:00 - 13:30 EST
Online, Zoom Webinar

DIGITALIZATION OF THE POST-PANDEMIC ECONOMY IN GEORGIA AND WIDER REGION

Confirmed speakers include:
Archil Mestvirishvili, Vice Governor, National Bank of Georgia
 
Nino Peranidze,  Senior Analyst, Galt & Taggart
 
Anatoly Motkin,  President, Strategeast
 
Kakha Gelashvili, Co-Founder, Payze
 
Colin Donohue, Director, Startup Grind Tbilisi  

Diana Kiguradze, Country Manager for the Caucasus Region, VISA

Moderated by Mamuka Tsereteli, President, AGBC

Post Pandemic Economic Strategy for Georgia

Second Session

Evolving Energy Security of Georgia

Confirmed speakers include: Giorgi Chikovani, Director, Georgian Energy Development Fund, Rusudan Medzmariashvili, Head of External Affairs, Georgia, BP Exploration (Caspian Sea) Limited, Giorgi Vakhtangishvili, CEO, Georgian Global Utilities, David Managadze, Associate Director, Regional Head Energy, EBRD, William Fisher, Business Development Director for Eurasia, APR Energy, Theresa Sabonis-Welf, Professor, Georgetown University

Moderated by Mamuka Tsereteli, PH.D, President, AGBC

Geography, History, Economy, and Politics of Wines in Georgia and Beyond 

NOVEMBER  9

CONFERENCE

PENN MUSEUM, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA

For More Detailed information and registration please visit our web site https://ghvinotemp.squarespace.com/

POST PANDEMIC ECONOMIC STRATEGY FOR GEORGIA

OCTOBER 19

10: 30AM - 1:00 PM
ONLINE, ZOOM WEBINAR

 We will host several presentations and panel discussions under the general umbrella title of the conference.
Our first webinar event will be on October19:

"STATUS UPDATE ON GEORGIAN ECONOMY AND STRATEGIC PRIORITIES"

Our speakers will discuss performance of the Georgian economy during the pandemic and key strategic priorities for the years to come, with a particular focus on  how to balance an open economy and long-term growth strategy with the need for:
1) Structural transformation,
2) Short-term growth, 
3) Employment.

Confirmed speakers include: James John, Mission Chief for Georgia at IMF, Arkadiy Dobkin, CEO of the world's leading software engineering company, Nugzar Kachukhashvili, CEO, Rustavi Steel, Otar Sharikadze, Managing Partner, Galt & Taggart, Gregory Kuntz, Managing Director, American International Healthcare Group, Kenneth Angell, Managing Director, Project Finance in ODC, USIDFC and others. Moderated by Mamuka Tsereteli, PH.D, President, AGBC

We are looking forward to seeing you on October 19.

AGBC Team

Presented by Mikheil Khidureli, CEO, Enterprise Georgia

Enterprise Georgia is the economic development agency of the Government of Georgia. The agency is focused on three strategic directions: Business Development, Export Promotion and Foreign Direct Investment attraction. The event will provide an opportunity to discuss with the CEO of the agency, Mr. Mikheil Khidureli, strategies and tools to facilitate investments into the country, and mechanisms that are utilized to support entry of Georgian products onto various markets around the world.  

Moderated by Mamuka Tsereteli

President, America-Georgia Business Council

One Hundred years ago in February 1921, the Bolshevik Red Army ended three years of independence of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Georgia was incorporated into the new Soviet state which was in violation of the May 7th, 1920 agreement between the Russian Federation and Georgia, which had recognized the independence and sovereignty of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. In the three short years of its independence, the Georgian republic established a democratic alternative to Bolshevism, a remarkable model of constitutionalism and free elections in the midst of Great Power avarice and civil wars. What were the circumstances which led to Georgia's annexation by the Soviet state? Could it have been avoided? What does it tell us about the role of small states in international politics, and about the Russian-Georgian relationship as colonizer and colonized?

Our speakers will discuss events from 100 years ago, but we will also focus on parallels and differences between the past and present in Russian-Georgian relations

Speakers include:
Dr. Stephen Jones, Professor, Mount Holyoke College/Vice President, American Research Institute of the South Caucasus
Dr. Beka Kobakhidze, Professor, Co-Chair of the MA Program in Modern History, Ilia State University
Dr. James Carafano, Vice President for the Kathryn and Shelby Cullom Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, Heritage Foundation

Moderated by:
Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, President, America-Georgia Business Council/Senior Fellow, Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at American Foreign Policy Council

This event is co-organized by America-Georgia Business Council, American Friends of Georgia and Georgian Association in the USA

Georgia has made substantial progress in economic reforms over the past 25 years, and this progress is reflected in high rankings in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index, as well as in the Heritage Foundation's Index of Economic Freedom. It is much easier to operate in Georgia than in most countries. This positive image was enhanced by success in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic, which is the result of long term investment in the people and infrastructure of Georgia by donor institutions and friends of Georgia, led by the United States.

The team of speakers from the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development join the America-Georgia Business Council and our member company representatives to discuss an interesting question: how and when can openness and ease of doing business translate into meaningful economic growth and tangible increase in employment in the context of post-pandemic recovery? 

Speakers include: 

Catarina Bjorlin Hansen, Director, Regional Head of Caucasus  

Dimitar Bogov, Associate Director, Regional Lead Economist (tbc),  

David Managadze, Regional Head for Caucasus, Energy  

Elena Gordeeva , Associate Director, Senior Banker, Infrastructure, Eurasia. 

Nataly Mouravidze,  Associate Director, Senior Banker, Manufacturing and Services  

George Akhalkasti, Associate Director, Senior Banker, Tbilisi Office  

Moderated by Mamuka Tsereteli, President, America-Georgia Business Council

The EBRD is a leading institutional investor in Georgia. Since the start of its operations in the country, the Bank has invested over €3.8 billion in 252 projects in the financial, corporate, infrastructure and energy sectors, with 87 per cent of these investments in the private sector. 

As some of you may know, the America-Georgia Business Council will host its 3rd Annual ღhvino Forum of America on November 11-12 at UC Davis. Traditionally, we will focus on the science of the vine and wines, the history, bio-diversity, botanics, economics and business of wine. The details of the wine conference and other activities of the forum will be distributed soon.  

Meanwhile, we have decided to host monthly webinars leading up to the event, starting from July. Our first event will be focused on the economic and cultural-societal impact of small wineries. 
Speakers will include young winemaker Gvantsa Abuladze from the beautiful Georgian village of Obcha in the Imereti region; restaurant owner and dedicated friend and promoter of Georgian wines Rose Previte; and the manager of an emerging agro-tourist destination with a winery in the picturesque village Tsitelmta in the region of Guria, Mariam Aduashvili.

Mamuka Tsereteli will moderate the discussion. 
 

America - Georgia Business Council's
22nd Annual Conference 

Economic Freedom: 

The Pillar of Georgia’s Security   

With a Special Presentation:
   25th edition of the Index of Economic Freedom

Sponsored by

America Georgia Business Council’s 21st Annual Conference  

America - Georgia Business Council in Collaboration with Foreign Policy Research Institute  invites you to a special event :

THE GROWING US-GEORGIAN PARTNERSHIP: SECURITY, TRADE, INVESTMENT

NOVEMBER 29, 2018

INTERNATIONAL HOUSE PHILADELPHIA
SOUTH AMERICA ROOM
3701 CHESTNUT ST. 
PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 

America Georgia Business Council Invites you to a Special Event

A Growing Partnership:

US-Georgian Trade and Investment Opportunities

Address: 50 Milk St., Boston, MA 02109 

       Lighthouse West, 20th Floor

Registration: 2:30
Presentations and Discussion: 3-5 pm
Georgian Wine Reception: 5-7 pm

Georgia is located in the area of great interest to many of the United States’ most challenging adversaries — China, Iran, and of course, its immediate neighbor, Russia. The interests of global powers in Georgia is mostly determined by its location and available infrastructure, which ensures access to the “heartland of Eurasia” and to the hydrocarbon resources of the Caspian basin.

The United States, more than any other country in the world, has tangible incentives to work closely with Georgia. For over two decades Georgia and the United States have been consistently reliable strategic partners that have contributed mightily to each other’s national security.

Georgia’s military has participated in every military campaign of the United States since 2003, and this small nation with population of only 3.7 million became one of the largest contributors of troops to coalition forces first in Iraq, and then in Afghanistan. 

Our speakers and guests will discuss different investment and trade opportunities between Georgia and the United States.

Event Program:

3:00 PM --  Opening Remarks by Dr. Mamuka Tsereteli, President, America-Georgia Business Council

3:15 - 4:15            Panel  Presentations                              

                          Giorgi Tsikolia, Deputy Chief of Mission, Embassy of Georgia in the

United States

                              Jarred Guthrie, Managing Partner, Commonwealth Frontier Advisers

                              Joseph Dolidze, Founder and CEO, Pace Terminal 

4:15 - 5:00              Q&A and Discussion

5:00-7:00                Georgian Wine Reception

Supported by

100 Years Since the First Republic

This year marks the centennial of Georgia’s independence and the establishment of the First Republic in 1918 and the 10th year since the Russian invasion of Georgia in 2008. Please join the U.S. Institute of Peace, Embassy of Georgia and the Heritage Foundation in welcoming The Honorable Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia, for the Second Annual U.S.-Georgia Strategic Partnership Conference. Renowned experts will explore the current state of regional affairs, focusing on the geopolitical interests of the United States and Georgia.

Georgian Association in the USA

In collaboration with

Levan Mikeladze Foundation

And

Center for Strategic & International Studies

Invite You to a Special Anniversary Conference:

Centennial of the First Georgian Republic:
Past, Present and Future of Georgia

Conference program

Co-Hosted by

25 Years of U.S.-Georgia Relations

The German Marshall Fund of the United States and the Government of Georgia in concert with The Heritage Foundation will host a conference marking the 25th Anniversary of diplomatic relations between the United States and Georgia. This conference will examine the background of the U.S.-Georgia strategic partnership, evaluate the current state of the relationship, and assess future prospects for deepening the already strong ties between the two countries.

Featuring Keynote Remarks
The Honorable Ted Poe (R-TX)
Co-Chairman of the Georgia Caucus, U.S. House of Representatives

Opening Remarks
H.E. David Bakradze, Ambassador of Georgia to the United States

Session 1
Political and Security Cooperation: Forging a More Democratic and Peaceful Future

H.E. Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia
Ambassador Kurt Volker, Executive Director, McCain Institute for International Leadership
Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad, President, Gryphon Partners
Andrea Thompson, National Security Advisor to the Vice President of the United States 
Derek Chollet, Executive Vice President, The German Marshall Fund of the United States, and former Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs (Moderator) 

Session 2
The Next Chapter in Georgia’s Economic Success Story: 
A Strategic Gateway for Regional Commerce

Bruce Andrews, Former Deputy Secretary of Commerce, U.S. Department of Commerce
Dev Jagadesan, Acting President and Chief Executive Officer, Overseas Private Investment Corporation
Irakli Matkava, First Deputy Minister of Infrastructure and Regional Development, Georgia
Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department of State
Thomas Melia, Fellow, George W. Bush Presidential Center, and former Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, USAID (Moderator) 

Closing Remarks
Luke Coffey, Director, Douglas and Sarah Allison Center for Foreign Policy Studies, 
The Heritage Foundation

Hosted by
Kim R. Holmes, Ph.D., Acting Senior Vice President, Research, The Heritage Foundation

Thursday, June 8, 2017 – 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

~ Check-In opens at 8:30 a.m. ~

The Heritage Foundation’s Allison Auditorium

RSVP online, or call (202) 675-1752 
All events may be viewed live at heritage.org 
News media inquiries, call (202) 675-1761

Trade, Transit and Investments-Pillars of Security of Georgia

Tbilisi Marriott Hotel
May 23 rd 10 AM-6 PM

Conference activities include

Where: Offices of Baker & McKenzie

815 Connecticut Avenue, NW, #900 Washington, DC 20006

When: December 7th, 2016

The AGBC will address policy and business initiatives that may help Georgia and U.S. companies involved in Georgia to capitalize on free trade arrangements with the European Union, Turkey, CIS countries, and China. We will look at success stories and explore desirable reforms to policies and practices in Georgia within a regional context.  Georgia can attract foreign direct investment and generate job growth through legal and regulatory reforms that could make it the premier investing destination to access the New Silk Road's market of 2.5 billion people.  

Confirmed Speakers

Bruce Andrews, Deputy Secretary of Commerce

Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Agriculture, Georgia

Bridget Brink, Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, USA

Judith Pryor, Vice President, External Affairs, Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Mercedes Vera-Martin, Deputy Division Chief, International Monetary Fund

George Tsikolia, Charge D'affaires, Embassy of Georgia

Ivo Konstantinov, Economic and Trade Counselor, Embassy of Bulgaria in the USA

Danica R. Starks, Policy Team Director, Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia, U.S. Department of Commerce

Kenneth Angel, Managing Director, Small and Medium Enterprise Finance, Overseas Private Investment Corporation

Greg Saunders, Senior Director, International Affairs, BP America

S. Enders Wimbush, Partner, Stratevarious

Jeffrey Liebert, CEO, Gazelle Finance Fund

Dimitri Tvildiani, Partner, American Hospital in Georgia

Jonathan Nelms, Partner, Baker McKenzie

Mamuka Tsereteli, President, AGBC

Download Program Here

The America-Georgia Business Council kindly invites you to join us to for a half day forum on: “Georgia and the Evolving Dynamics of the New Silk Road.” 

Where: Offices of Baker & McKenzie, 815 Connecticut Ave NW, #900, Washington, DC 20006

When: October 5, from 2:30-6:00 p.m.

Followed by Wine Reception and Farewell Toast to departing Georgian Ambassador Archil Gegeshidze

Wine Reception: 6:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.

Download the Conference Agenda Here

The American Georgia Business Council cordially invite you to Lunch with American Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly. 
 

*This event is open to USG and AGBC Council Members Only*
Date: September 1st, 2016

Time: 12:30pm-2pm

Location:
BP America

1101 New York Ave #700

Washington, DC 20005

Levan Mikeladze Foundation for the Caucasus Studies

and

Central Asia-Caucasus Institute at Johns Hopkins SAIS

Invite you to participate in the conference

When:

Thursday, May 12, 2016

1:00 pm-7:00 pm
 

Strategic Pillars of Security for Georgia:

Trans-Atlantic Integration, Economy, Democracy

Where:
Kenney Auditorium

Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies

1740 Massachusetts Ave, NW, 20036

Register Here

View and Download the Full Agenda Here

Where:
The Kenney Herter Auditorium
Johns Hopkins University
1740 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C.

 When:
April 28-29, 2016

 Co-organized by:
Embassy of Azerbaijan
Embassy of Georgia
Embassy of Kazakhstan
Embassy of Turke 

Hosted by:
Central Asia and Caucasus Institute
Johns Hopkins University

DESCRIPTION: Central Asia, South Caucasus and Black Sea regions together form a strategically important transit corridor between China and Europe. Connecting trade, people and economies, the modern trans-Caspian trade and transit routes envisage an extensive and integrated network of infrastructure, special economic zones, harmonized customs, cross-border procedures and more.

Today, ambitious regional infrastructure projects are underway. Baku International Sea Trade Port in Azerbaijan, expansion of the Poti Sea Port and Anaklia Deep Sea Port in Georgia, completion of the Marmaray under-Bosphorus tunnel in Turkey, the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, and Kazakhstan's "Khorgos: Eastern Gate" SEZ will ensure swift and efficient shipments of all types of goods. These projects will connect the Asian and European transport networks, significantly shorten delivery time and save transportation costs.

Expanding regional transport grids along the Caspian Sea opens new opportunities for transcontinental shipments and innovative services. Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Turkey combine to a market of more than 110 million consumers. These countries are able to offer customized and integrated solutions to companies with highly sophisticated supply chains.

The goal of the Forum is to introduce projects and investment along the modern Silk Road to U.S. business leaders across a variety of industries. Participants will learn and discuss how multinational companies can benefit from greater cooperation with the region.

The Forum will bring together public and private senior executives in the fields of transportation policy, transit, customs, logistics and value-added services from the above-mentioned countries along with representatives of the international freight forwarders, China and Central Asia-based US manufacturing companies.

DAY 1
April 28, 2016, 8AM-3PM
Panel 1: “Trans-South Caucasus Customs and Trade Facilitation: What Needs to be Done Next?”
Panel 2: “From Sea to Sea: Integrated Regional Transit and Logistics Infrastructure”
Panel 3: “Commercial and Investment Opportunities: Financing, Logistics and Supply Chain”

DAY 2
April 29, 2016, 10AM-5PM
Private Roundtable Discussion with regional delegation (contact USACC to get access)
B2B’s, B2G’s – contact USACC to request meetings with visiting delegates

Confirmed list of regional representatives:

Azerbaijan:
Ministry of Economy
Ministry of Transportation
State Customs Committee
Coordination Council on Transit Cargo
“Azerbaijan Railways” CSJC
“Azerbaijan Caspian Shipping” CSJC
“Baku International Sea and Trade Port” CSJC

Georgia:
Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development
Ministry of Infrastructure and Regional Development
Georgian Railway

Kazakhstan:
Ministry of Investment and Development
Kazakhstan TemirZholi (Kazakhstan Railways)
“KazLogistics” Union of Shipment and Logistics Organization and Associations

Turkey:
Representatives TBD

To get access to private roundtable discussion or to request B2B’s and B2G’s, please e-mail us at ssadigova@usacc.org with your full name, position and brief company information.

To request forum agenda, please e-mail us at chamber@usacc.org

REGISTRATION: RSVP is required. Register online by COB April 25, 2016.

When:
Thursday, April 7, 2016
5:30 PM - 7:30 PM

Where:
Embassy of Georgia to the United States
1824 R Street NW
Washington, DC 20009

Please join ExportDC, the Embassy of Georgia to the United States, and the Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan to the United States to learn about the upcoming Washington, DC Regional Trade Mission to Azerbaijan and Georgia, which will be held from May 16-20, 2016.

Presentations will cover cultural highlights, trade and investment opportunities, and leading industries/sectors in Azerbaijan and Georgia along with information about the two-country trade mission in May 2016.  An embassy networking reception featuring light hor d’oeuvres and beverages will immediately follow the country briefings.  

Speakers include Mr. Giorgi Tsikolia, Envoy, Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, Embassy of Georgia; Mr. Levan Beridze; Counselor, Embassy of Georgia; Mr. Fakhraddin Ismayilov, Counselor, Embassy of the Republic of Azerbaijan; and Ms. Susan Sadigova, Executive Director, United States – Azerbaijan Chamber of Commerce.

Registration: RSVP is required. Please register online by COB, April 6, 2016.

The America Georgia Business Council cordially invite you to lunch with
The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, the Honorable Dimitry Kumsishvili and Chairman of the TBC Group, Mamuka Khazaradze. 

Discussion will focus on major public-private partnership projects and the overall business and investment opportunities in Georgia. 

Light lunch will be provided

Date: Friday March 11th, 2016
Time: 12:30pm-2:30pm

Location: 
BP America

1101 New York Ave #700

Washington, DC 20005

Download the Conference Agenda here. Note that the conference agenda is subject to final change. 

Fill in the form below to register 

*Conference Registration is free for members and speakers / panelists and $50 for non-member registrants. 

• To pay for your conference registration if you are not an active member of the council, please click the Paypal link below. Registration is $50 for non members and includes lunch, 2 coffee breaks, and a wine reception. 

• To pay for your wine tour, a $50 fee regardless of membership status, please click the Paypal link below.