2016-06-28
The Government of Georgia will elaborate Strategic Plan on Tusheti Development in cooperation with the Swiss experts. Sharing the Swiss experience in view of developing mountainous regions was one of the main conversation topics during the meeting of the Prime Minister of Georgia and group of experts of Swiss Ministry of Economy.
Prime Minister of Georgia indicated that Georgia is willing to set up a platform that will be able to undertake relevant research and analysis, thus defining the model of development of Georgian mountainous regions, including in view of preservation of unique ecosystem and cultural heritage.
Swiss and Georgian parties conducted presentations and the meting continued in a discussion format. During the presentation Head of the Promotion Activities Directorate Eric Jakob elaborated on Swiss tourist and regional policies. The Ambassador presented tourism related instruments and mechanisms employed by Switzerland. Eric Jacobs considered today's meeting with the Prime Minister to be interesting and expressed willingness to closer cooperation.
"We learned a lot about Georgian tourism from the delegation representing Georgia. We were informed about a very interesting Tusheti project. I came to a conclusion that Georgia has a massive tourism potential and there are directions that require development, including accessibility - that is essential in terms of regional tourism. I consider that different and beautiful landscape, mountains enables development of winter sports, whereas seaside, variety of landscapes and culture indicate the great tourism potential. We look forward to the opportunity of closer cooperation with Georgia. Both Georgia and Switzerland are members of UN World Tourism Organization. We agreed that primarily we will work in direction of developing wine tourism. Within the frames of the UN World Tourism Organization a conference is planned in September. Hence, we look forward to the further opportunity of deepening cooperation with Georgia," - Eric Jakob noted.
International expert on development of mountainous regions Paata Shanshiashvili held a presentation of Tusheti development. Prime Minister considers that an interesting cooperation can take place in view of developing mountainous regions.
Head of the Government elaborated on other meetings planned within the frames of his official visit. He assessed the Free Trade Agreement with the EFTA that encompasses Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Norway.
"These are additional 14 million customers to the products manufactured in Georgia. I believe that this is important in terms of developing our economy and attraction of investments," - Prime Minister stated.
The meeting was attended by head of tourism policy at Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs, head of the regional and planning policy under Switzerland's State Secretariat for Economic Affairs Annette Spoerri, Head of the Promotion Activities Directorate Eric Jakob and Director Emerging Markets & Special Projects at the Swiss National Tourist Office Federico Sommaruga. From the Georgian side the first Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili, deputy Foreign Minister Gigi Gigiadze, deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze, Ambassador of Georgia to the Swiss Confederation Irakli Kurashvili and deputy head of Administration of Government Nino Kobakhidze attended the meeting.
Prime Minister's Press Office