Bakhtadze: Interest of American investments in the Region is declining

"Unfortunately, geopolitical turbulence is growing in the Black Sea region," said Mamuka Bakhtadze, the former Prime Minister of Georgia and now Chairman of the Board of the US-Georgia Economic Cooperation Fund, at the fund's first event.

He attributed the current situation to the events in Afghanistan and the crisis in energy markets in Europe. According to him, all this indicates a new geopolitical reality.

"In my estimation, this new reality and balance is more fragile and dangerous. However, I'm in Washington right now, and I'm clearly seeing the willingness of decision - makers, as well as experts and think tanks, to discuss what the US's response to these challenges should be, as they have an impact on the security architecture around the world." he.

According to him, these threats threaten not only Ukraine, Georgia or only the countries of the region, but the whole world. As Mamuka Bakhtadze noted, American investments in the South Caucasus and Central Asia are declining.

"There are many reasons for this trend, of course, but it is one of them, and studies show that American companies lack the financial and economic tools to compete with Asian and Russian companies," he said.

"Accordingly, I think that economic cooperation and partnership should be the key to this in order to create new opportunities. This was the main motivation for me and my American and Georgian friends to establish this organization, the USA-Georgia Economic Cooperation Foundation," he added.

Former Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has set up the US-Georgia Economic Cooperation Fund (AGECF) to facilitate the opening up of the International Finance Corporation (DFC) regional office in Georgia and the signing of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the United States. The first event of the foundation was held today in Tbilisi, which was attended by Mamuka Bakhtadze from Washington.