The BAG Meeting with the Head of the European Union Delegation to Georgia

3 Jun '10

The BAG Supervisory Board and executive team met the Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Per Eklund on June 3.

The meeting took place in a business lunch format at which business environment existing in Georgia, Georgia-EU economic cooperation perspectives were discussed.

The guest was informed about the Association's work by the President of the BAG George Chirakadze; according to him, the Business Association of Georgia is actively cooperating with GoG in the course of implementation of ongoing economic reforms; in addition it is actively involved in the improvement of labor legislation and introduction of quality control system.

As stated by Mr. Eklund, the EU is concerned about cooperation with Georgia and welcomes country's aspiration for integration with the EU one of the components of which at this stage is signing of free trade agreement.

In order to access EU free trade system Georgia has to meet several important requirements including sophistication of antimonopoly and labor legislations, introduction of product quality control mechanisms.

The subject of utmost interest at the meeting was deserved by review of ILO recommendations on Georgian Labor Code. Chairman of the BAG Committee for Employment and Labor Relations Lasha Akhaladze provided the guest with the information regarding trilateral commission's work set up on the basis of Healthcare Ministry, which in collaboration with the Employers' Association and Trade Union is actively working on the issues of labor relations.

Business climate existing in the country and ongoing economic reforms were overviewed by the Vice President of the Association Soso Pkhakadze.

According to him, the BAG Tax and Customs Committee is actively cooperating with MoF and involved in the development of new tax code.

As declared by the EU ambassador, at this stage of development for Georgia it is important to attract as many investments as possible; to this end, along the healthy taxation environment, independent judiciary and inviolability of private property is necessary.