Bristol Business Conference Kicks Off

The one-day Bristol Business Conference kicked off this morning with addresses from the Tbilisi City Mayor, Master of the Bristol Guild of Guardians and the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.

The conference is arranged by the Bristol Tbilisi Association in partnershipp with TBC Bank on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Bristol- Tbilisi twinning agreement signed in 1988 with the aim of approximating ties in culture and business. In attendance were British business owners, investors and numerous expats living in Georgia who are investing in the development of infrastructure or society in some form.

"It is our honor to welcome our guests from Britain," Mayor Kakha Kaladze said, opening the conference. "It is a significant day for Georgia and for Tbilisi.  I met with the Mayor of Bristol and discussed transport, infrastructure and other ways in which experience can be shared. Bristol is an example city for us. In 2015, it was awarded Green City of the Year. We have significant challenges in this regard- in terms of the environment, for which we have many plans, some of which my collegaue will present later today. In terms of the business environment in Georgia- we pride ourselves on our achievements in the field, being in the top rankings of various reputable international organizations in transparency, protection of private property and more. We take care of every cent invested in Tbiisi. I thank you for your present and potential engagement in the economy of the country and wish you every success."

Jane Oakland, the Master of the Guild of Guardians in Bristol, took to the stage to thank the hosts and organizers for giving British investors a chance to discover the potential of Georgia and Tbilisi. 

"Our job at the Guild is to enhance the trade, commerce and traditions of our city. This covers financial services, banking, education, and other areas of interest in the city," she said. "In the last six month you can hardly turn on the TV or radio in the UK without hearing a leading actor, politician or musician talking about their experiences in Tbilisi and Georgia. We're very pleased to be a part of that journey of development."

The Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, George Sharvashidze then spoke extensively on Georgia's path of devlopment and success, citing its place in international rankings and the increasing number of annual visitors, as well as its achievements and plans for further development . 

On display in the hosting hall at the TBC Headquarters was a display of artwork and photos of the cultural events that have connected Bristol and Tbilisi since its Twinning 30 years ago.

On the agenda for the rest of the day are the Deputy Chairman of TBC Bank, BP Georgia Country Manager, British Ambassador Smith, the Mayor of Bristol and a number of British businesspersons in Georgia to talk about joint investment potential.

For full coverage of the event, check out the GT Business issue out Tuesday.

By Katie Ruth Davies