Ambassador Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze
By Fazeena Saleem
DOHA: Georgia is seeking to enhance its relations with Qatar, especially in political and economical fields.
The country is looking to enter into new partnerships in business and support each other’s political advocacy at international forums, Georgian Ambassador Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze told a press conference yesterday.
Georgia opened its embassy in Qatar in November last year. Earlier it had been operating from its mission in Kuwait.
“We have very active corporation with Qatar. We started our relations from our embassy in Kuwait as Qatar is very vibrant and has achieved a lot in a short time,” said Meiering-Mikadze.
“We are looking for more business investments and we also politically need each other. We support each other’s candidacy at international bodies such as the United Nations,” she said.
Georgia is also likely to get Qatari investments in the business, tourism, real estate and agricultural sectors, among others.
“Georgia is free for investments. Several businessmen have visited us and some are at negotiation level,” she said.
Meiering-Mikadze explained that the World Bank has rated Georgia as one of the best destinations for investments and the country is liberal towards its investors.
Besides, she said, the presidential election in October is expected to create more investment friendly environment.
Besides, Georgia will bring its artists in Qatar to share more cultural experiences between both countries.
“Qatar is the centre of culture in the Middle East. Cultural exchange will help our society to know about each other better,” she said.
“Georgian Cultural Day will be held soon in Qatar and many prominent artistes will come here and perform.
Qatar has started receiving Georgian students at the Education City. Three students have been admitted to universities recently.
“It’s a good development. Usually our students go to the US or Europe, hope there will be more students coming to Qatar,” Meiering-Mikadze said.
The Peninsula
DOHA: Around 400 Georgians living in Qatar will be able to vote at their embassy here in the presidential election in October.
A voting station will be set up at the embassy on the day of the election and registered Georgians will be able to exercise franchise according to procedures of their country, Ambassador Ekaterine Meiering-Mikadze told at a press conference yesterday.
“Some monitors from the election committee in Georgia will come and we will have a three-member committee here too,” she said.
Georgia has requested Qatar to send election observers to its country for the October election.
The election is slated for October 27. It will be the sixth presidential election in Georgia since the country’s declaration of independence from the erstwhile Soviet Union in 1991.
The Georgia Dream party secured majority, defeating the ruling United National Movement in the parliamentary election last year.
However, the incumbent president belongs to the United National Movement and the situation is likely to change in the upcoming election, the ambassador said. The goal of the current government is integration into the European Union and Nato.
“Unlike the previous government, they intend to ensure respect for the rule of law and democratic values,” said Meiering-Mikadze.
The Peninsula
