Business Forum "Construction Georgia 2017"
On June 6, at the Hotels & Preference Hualing Tbilisi, BUSINESS GEORGIA organized the Business Forum CONSTRUCTION GEORGIA 2017 at which the construction business was discussed as one of the fastest growing sectors in Georgia. The event's main goal was to emphasize the role of the construction sector in the economic growth of the country and the significant impact of standardization on the construction sector.
The themes included Market Specifications, Supply & demand correlation on the market and the impact of urbanization on field development; The cause of providers, spectrum of the resources necessary for construction and their compliance with quality; Investing & Funding: Funding the construction business and existing risk factors; Construction sector – an attractive field for investors, implemented investments; Safety and Standards: safety issues meeting the standards and the role of regulations; Infrastructural base necessary for effective functioning of the field; Strategy: Cluster policy of managing a construction business; and Energy efficiency standards in construction – strategy and obligations for 2022.
BUSINESS GEORGIA is distinguished for its organizing of business forums and, by defining relevant topics, it emphasizes the facts and processes that reflect the business environment in the country. By conducting subject based, industry based and regional business forums, the company aims to provide all interested parties with relevant information and support those involved in the process of forming the business climate for strategic business development in Georgia.
The business forum at Hualing brought together around 300 participants, including high level government officials, commercial and international sectors, entrepreneurs and start-ups, construction and developer companies, importer and exporter company representatives, investors, financial institutions, insurance sector, investment companies, consulting sector, media, Chambers of Commerce and Industry, alongside individuals who represent decision-making organizations and play a key role in creating effective business environment and developing further process.
Karina Jansone, representative of the EU delegation to Georgia, focused on energy efficiency, saying that it is often forgotten, but this is a very important topic, related to creating jobs and economic growth, “We are increasing this ambition in the EU and other countries, including in Georgia. Energy efficiency is a growing field in EU world cooperation. The EU can be a partner for the private sector, including the construction sector. All our cooperation will be conditional on developing a sound and sustainable energy framework, which will also include energy efficiency in the construction field. One of the [themes] would be raising the awareness of the population and developing a proper understanding of energy efficiency”.
Ana Gogishvili, Director General of BUSINESS GEORGIA talked to GEORGIA TODAY fresh after the forum: “Our forums are created in order to enable the public and private sectors, as well as international sectors, to have discussions, solve problems, outline plans for the future and share their opinions with one another in the same space. This was the first construction forum of ours, which we began working on after conducting a large market survey. The next forum will be held at the end of July and will focus on real estate. It will be attended by representatives of broker companies and investment funds of various countries”. Reportedly, before that, at the end of June, BUSINESS GEORGIA plans a business forum Women in Business.
GEORGIA TODAY also spoke to Zura Tsiklauri, interim Head of the Service of Architecture under Tbilisi City Hall, about the unlawful constructions which have been quite abundant, which often threaten to destroy green zones, including parks and other recreation zones: “I can tell you that at present, illegal constructions are maximally restricted. There may be old projects that are still ongoing but we have an approach to have as much free and green space as possible, which will be by all means included in the development plan of the city”.
According to the National Statistics Office of Georgia, construction has increased by 70 percent in Tbilisi and by 63 percent in Adjara. 64,692 employees are working in the construction field. However, the coin has two sides and while the boost to the economy is good, our green spaces must also be protected.
Maka Lomadze