GD Minister of Economy Davitashvili Meets with US Ambassador Dunnigan

Georgian Dream Vice Prime Minister and Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili met with the U.S. Ambassador Robin Dunnigan on April 1, in what the Georgian side described as talks on the prospects of economic cooperation. The meeting follows the earlier meeting with GD Foreign Minister Maka Botchorishvili; this was the first meeting of the U.S. Ambassador with a GD cabinet member since the contested October 26 elections. It also comes amid an unprecedented deterioration in bilateral relations and the Georgian Dream government’s stated desire to normalize relations with Washington.

The Ministry of Economy said that the discussions focused on key economic priorities of Georgia, while Davitashvili emphasized the opportunities that “will be important for both countries in this context.”

The released statement noted that the meeting focused on cooperation issues in various sectors, including innovation, technology, trade, transportation, the Middle Corridor project, and “encouraging investments and cooperation in the energy sector.”

The Ministry said that the meeting further covered plans to establish Georgia’s first international technological hub in San Francisco, “with the aim of supporting the internationalization of Georgian start-ups and access to global markets, as well as attracting global technology companies, foreign venture funds and angel investor networks to the Georgian innovation ecosystem.”

The Ministry’s press-release said that Amb. Dunigan pledged that U.S. Embassy “will actively support this project, which will be jointly implemented by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and the Agency for Innovation and Technology of the Ministry of Economy. As it claimed, the U.S. Embassy has pledged support for the initiative.

At the meeting held at the Ministry of Economy, the parties also discussed issues of facilitation of trade missions between the two countries.

The meeting comes against the backdrop of Washington’s growing unease with Georgia’s deepening ties with China.

Prior to the ambassador’s meeting with Davitashvili, Dunnigan met with GD’s Foreign Minister, Maka Botchorishvili. The U.S. Embassy readout of the meeting highlighted steps Georgia could take to improve frayed relations, while the Georgian Foreign Ministry said the discussion reaffirmed the strategic partnership between the two nations.

Also Read:

• 19/12/2024 – U.S. Department of Treasury Sanctions Georgian MIA Officials for Brutality Against Protesters, Journalists, and Politicians
• 30/11/2024 – BREAKING: U.S. Suspends Strategic Partnership with Georgia