On 27-29 November 2017 Mr. Ciopraga, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA participated in Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum

The traditional format of the Forum was preserved. Day 1 provided opportunities to discuss a full spectrum of issues related to trade in five panel discussions, while Day 2 focused on the discussions regarding the opportunities of the private sector and those of investments in Georgia.

The Tbilisi Belt and Road Forum of 2017 was aimed to serve as a platform for the high-level dialogue between the government and private sector. The Forum hosted over 1000 political leaders, diplomats, experts, representatives of international organizations, including the PS IGC TRACECA and businesses to discuss factors which define the regional and global trade, including trade facilitation, opportunities of e-commerce and digital connectivity, transport infrastructure and energy sector. 

In addition to discussions on a vast array of issues during November 28-29, the Forum offered the companies to participate in business-to-business meetings on 29th of November 2017, to share experiences and knowledge.

Specialized side events and meetings were organized with the view of strengthening cooperation among the regional businesses. Outcomes of these discussions will make it possible to deeper examine regional cooperation advantages, more efficiently focus on reforms and exploration of new investment opportunities. 

Within the framework of the Meeting Mr. Ciopraga, Secretary General of the PS IGC TRACECA had the honour to meet with H.E. Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia. 

H.E. Mr. Kvirikashvili and Mr. Ciopraga briefly exchanged views on the significant contribution of Georgia to the activities of TRACECA concerning the integration processes of the corridor development as well as transport infrastructure and logistics, financing of transport infrastructure involving Georgia, foreign and international institutions. 

Georgia had an opportunity to participate in the process of strengthening links between the continents, and to host the Silk Road Forum in Tbilisi for the second time.  This fact underlines the strategic importance of the event not only for the countries that participate, but also for everyone interested in the achievements in trade, developing infrastructure, increasing access to digital technologies and deepening relations between people. 

In this regard, the contribution of Georgia to the recent launch of the Baku-Tbilisi–Kars railway project, which is connecting Central Asian countries with the European railway network through an alternative route was also emphasized. 

Moreover, trade regime of Georgia is one of the most liberal in the world, and establishes free trade regimes with all neighbors, EU, EFTA, and with the countries of Eastern Europe, Central Asia and China. 

It should be noted that the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), also known as the One Belt, One Road Initiative (OBOR), is a development strategy proposed by China's leader Xi Jinping that focuses on the connectivity and cooperation between Eurasian countries. The strategy underlines China's aspiration to play a greater role in global affairs, with a China-centered trading network.

Among remarkable events within cooperation activities between TRACECA and China was the recent signature of the Memorandum of Understanding between the PS IGC TRACECA and the Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) on 8th September 2017 in Xi`an, China.