Silk Road Forum should lead increasing our country’s transit potential – Vice PM Dimitri Kumsishvili
The Silk Road Forum benefit should reveal in increasing our country’s transit potential, - Georgia’s Vice PM Dimitri Kumsishvil has declared at Tbilisi before the forum begins.
According to him, Tbilisi hosts the second Silk Road forum with 2000 delegates and visitors from 60 countries.
‘We have delegates of very high level. Prime ministers from two countries are here as well as vice PMs and ministers from different countries. Generally, the forum essence and benefit should reveal in leading to encourage our country’s transit potential as well as the investments Georgia is implementing in basic infrastructure. The investments made by the private sector and other significant infrastructure should also be beneficial that will result in creation of new jobs and inclusive development of economy,’ Kumsishvili has remarked.
In response to a question whether the Silk Road can replace the Karsi-Akhalkalaki railway, Kumsishvili said that the railway represents continuation of the Silk Road being one of the branch of it. According to him this is the way connecting Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey and in turn, it will be the possibility that will increase our hub capacity by 15 million tons in total.
In response to a question over revealed benefits of the Silk Road first forum, Dimitri Kumsishvil said that a lot has happened for two years.
‘In March 2015 Georgia and China signed an agreement on the Silk Road development and in November 2015 we hosted the first Silk Road forum in Tbilisi. Afterwards, we completed the trade agreement on free trade with China… As a result, cargos turnover increased, as well as the railway turnover today we enjoy from the Asian countries including China. We are very proud of it saying all this confirms that the shortest road is on Georgia and this is reality today… Currently we know that it takes only 9-12 days for shipment to Europe via our hub from China. So, the wishes and opinions expressed in 2015 is now reality,’ Kumsishvili has remarked.
According to him a set of important agreements are planned to be signed today.
Tbilisi Silk Road Forum is opening today.