Ivanishvili's experience provides promise to improve business

Georgian billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili has been intensively commenting on the current economic situation in the country. As a successful businessman he is well aware of the economics of Georgia and introduced his vision for improving the situation to the public.

He sees the present crisis as a result of the government's policies, but insists that in future Georgia could have a sustainable economy based on dynamic innovations and modern technologies.

When asked by the newspaper Sakartvelos Respublika what he would keep from the current Georgian economic policy, he answered that something could be left if only it existed in the first place...but that you cannot have anything left from something that doesn't exist at all. He said that what exists now is an "eclectic amalgamation of obscure splintered visions". The talk about cultivating a "tourism boom" and raising crocodiles and frogs in Georgia are material only for a not-very-funny comedy show.

According to Ivanishvili, the business environment here is unfriendly. The ratings that are so touted by Georgian authorities showing how the country is leading in business are very often based on defective data. There is no confidence in data from the Government statistical department, therefore all talk about the ease of doing business in Georgia and good ratings lack any real foundation.

Ivanishvili shared his vision that begins with improving the overall situation in the country--first according to him, is the judicial system that should be independent. All business activities have to be carried out within a context of rule of law, in which leading politicians must not interfere. The executive, legislative and judicial systems should not interfere in legal business activities. Only such a context will permit business to flourish and create jobs.

To realize these conditions Ivanishvili would have to come to power. Otherwise promises will remain just promises--neither Shevardnadze nor Saakashvili delivered on the pledges they made before becoming President, promising benefits to business and people. The result has been frustration. Georgia's first leaders had no personal economic experience—one coming from a communist system and the other too young—with a little political experience but no knowledge of economics--whereas Ivanishvili is already a billionaire. The example of the USA and other countries has shown that money and politics can mix, and that a certain personal wealth gained legally improves a leader's understanding of economic issues.