- Fitch Ratings, international rating agency, has upgraded the credit rating of Georgia and advanced Georgia’s GDP growth rate forecast to 6 percent. Do you think this forecast will genuinely come true?

- Yes I believe that the forecast will come true; as a matter of fact most macro economic parameters have improved and the country is as well politically stable so there is no reason not to hit the six percent growth and even exceed it.

- The Georgian Government asserts the national economy and the business sector of Georgia have left the crisis period. At the same time, private companies and business associations often make different appraisals. Which of these considerations do you think to be more acceptable?

- I would say that the economic figures are improving and therefore we are getting out of the crisis; as for businesses you cannot put them all in one basket certain sectors such as trade are doing better than other like real estate; having said that even real estate is starting to pick up little by little considering that the banks are again extending mortgages and this will no doubt move the machine forward pretty fast.

- The Georgia’s indicators in the index of economic freedom have worsened a little. The rating authors note the state sector has enlarged the interference degree in the national economy. Is the business sector facing the same problem?

- Frankly I am surprised from this information, I don’t know which body assessed the economic freedom and what tools were used but what I can assure you is that we don’t feel any increased interference from the Government in the economy but quite the opposite.

- Last period you have made several statements foreign companies are pressing Georgian businesses in Georgia. Moreover, foreign companies even hinder Georgian businesses to penetrate foreign markets. What are the reasons behind similar statements?

- What I have said is that thanks to the reforms in Georgia and to the commitment of the government to open the country to businesses coming from everywhere, Georgia has today a perfect business climate and dozens of companies from the neighboring countries are operating here unhindered and are expanding their businesses; by the same token many Georgian companies are hindered to work or to have any commercial activity in those neighboring countries through the creation of artificial barriers by the local Governments; I believe this to be totally unfair and I think that the principle of reciprocity should apply; if the situation remains unchanged many Georgian companies will go bankrupt since they cannot compete against the neighboring companies who have monopolies in their own countries and generate huge profits; many of those neighboring companies are damping the prices in the Georgian market to drive the local competition out of business with the aim of creating thereafter a de facto monopoly in Georgia.

- A bill of amendments is expected to be incorporated in the tax code. Have you engaged in the bill development process and what are your expectations?

- Yes our Tax Commission has been working very closely with the Ministry of Finance and we have very recently submitted to the Ministry a comprehensive package of amendments that we would like to see adopted.

- Government officials are trying to organize frequent meetings with various business associations. Do you think similar communications are efficient?

- Absolutely! The Georgian Government is always very accessible and available for discussions in a very constructive way; I think that this is a blessing for the business community who can inform the government on regular basis of hurdles that need to be removed; so we are always in a process of fine tuning of the business environment; in my opinion Georgia will be in 2010 in the very small circle of the 10 easiest countries to do business.

- Many discontent statements are being made the Georgian bank sector has not significantly increased lending policy in relation to the business sector? Do you agree with this consideration?

- No I don’t agree with this statement at all! Georgian banks have already decreased interest rates and are happy to lend money; the issue is that many businesses are in the process of restructuring after the crisis and are not ready yet to borrow.

- The Georgian Government expects the country to receive about one billion USD in investments in 2010. Do you think these figure are realistic?

- I believe that in the second semester of 2010 investments will increase sensibly I would not be therefore surprised if we are close to the one billion mark.