A PUBLIC-PRIVATE partnership with Georgia could see the KwaZulu-Natal Province and Durban benefiting meaningfully. EThekwini Mayor Councillor Cyril Xaba revealed this during a meeting with the Georgia Ambassador to South Africa, His Excellency Ronald Beridze. The meeting was held at the Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal on 15 October. Fostering collaboration and understanding between the country of Georgia and the public entities of KwaZulu-Natal is crucial for the success of the amiable relationship that already exists, Mayor Xaba said.

“The ongoing collaboration will uncover more opportunities, while exploring innovative solutions that can drive mutual growth and benefit our communities. Cementing business confidence with many countries and cities will increase investment in the City,” he said. He added that there is a lot to learn from Georgia and urged the Georgia government to walk with the City to achieve common objectives as it moves in the right direction. Ambassador Beridze said Georgia is looking forward to cementing ties with KwaZulu-Natal as the province is a conducive place to invest in.

“Our meeting presented a unique opportunity to share insights, best practices, and innovative ideas that can strengthen our relationship. Georgia is a good country to invest in and we are willing to share our best practices with South Africa,” said Ambassador Beridze. He said Georgia is proud to be ranked number seven in the world for being a country that is easy to do business with. Despite its population of 3.7 million, the tourism sector in Georgia is thriving, he added.

“Georgia and KwaZulu-Natal have a growing relationship in economic ties, education, cultural exchange, tourism, business partnerships, and government cooperation. There are Georgia companies investing in KwaZulu-Natal’s agricultural sector, particularly in citrus fruit production and wine industries,” he said. Trade and Investment KwaZulu-Natal Chief Executive Officer Sihle Ngcamu said the cooperation with Georgia will create a resilient economy with a strong growth potential. “Excellent transport infrastructure is key to gaining access to African markets,” he said. The Georgia delegation also met with Transnet to discuss ways to collaborate on port operations.