Gvinadze & Partners law firm supported participation of one of the two Georgian teams (Free University) in this year’s Willem C. Vis International Commercial Arbitration Moot. Managing Partner Nick Gvinadze and arbitration Associate Liana Kartsivadze enjoyed the opportunity to meet and cheer the promising young lawyers in Vienna where the grand opening of the event took place.

On March 20, 2013 the EU released its annual Progress Report on Georgia “Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in Georgia Progress in 2012 and recommendations for action”. The report reviews achievements made by Georgia within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2012 and outlines areas and recommendations where further efforts are needed.

“Vilnius Summit to be a milestone in bringing partners closer to political association and economic integration” said Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and Neighbourhood Policy in his speech made in Brussels at the European Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee on 20 March 2013 when presenting the European Neighbourhood Policy Progress Reports.

On March 20, 2013 the EU released its annual Progress Report on Georgia - “Implementation of the European Neighbourhood Policy in Georgia Progress in 2012 and recommendations for action”. The report reviews achievements made by Georgia within the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) in 2012 and outlines areas and recommendations where further efforts are needed.

On 19 March 2013, Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) presented its report on Implementation of European Neighbourhood Policy Action Plan for Georgia in Trade and Some Trade Related Areas in 2012.

DLA Piper is pleased to announce that mergermarket has again ranked DLA Piper #1 globally for M&A (overall deal volume). At the same time, Thomson Reuters ranked DLA Piper #1 in global transactions for the middle market, for 2012.  These two major awards follow DLA Piper's designation by the Financial Times as the "Most Innovative Law Firm in Finance Law in 2012," and mergermarket and the FT's selection of DLA Piper as "European Mid-market Law Firm of the Year."  

Gvinadze & Partners law firm is pleased to announce expansion of its presence to Batumi. The firm is joined by David Chkonia, an experienced local lawyer competent to support the firm’s business in all areas of commercial law in Adjara and broader West Georgia region, with particular expertise in real estate, construction, international sales, storage and transportation of goods, as well as microfinance sectors. Please visit www.gvinadzeandpartners.ge for more on David Chkonia.

EUGBC is pleased to inform that its member MagtiCom celebrates one year anniversary of MagtiSat, the first Pay Satellite TV operator in Georgia. The Council congratulates MagtiCom and its President and EUGBC Board Member, Mr. David Lee on this wonderful occasion and wish the company many more successful and fruitful years in business!

The Financial Times has awarded DLA Piper with “Most Innovative Firm in Finance Law 2012” award. The firm received this accolade for its ground-breaking work for the National Development Corporation of Tanzania (NDC) on the US$ 3 billion joint venture between NDC and Sichuan Hongda for the development of mines and a power plant in Southern Tanzania. The Financial Times described the transaction as “the biggest ever investment in East Africa” and praised the firm for our “cross-cultural sensitivity”.

The European Union and Georgia held the 13^th Cooperation Council meeting on 18 December 2012 in Brussels. The EU was represented by Erato Kozakou-Marcoullis, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Cyprus, who chaired the Cooperation Council on behalf of the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Catherine Ashton, and by Stefan Fule, Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood Policy.

The EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC), with funding from the European Union has issued the next publication for Georgian exporters to the EU - How to Export Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic Beverages and Water Products from Georgia to the EU Market.

On November 12, Bidzina Ivanishvili in his capacity as Georgia’s Prime Minister commenced his first foreign trip with a three-day visit to Brussels. PM Bidzina Ivanishvili met President of the European Council, Herman Van Rompuy, President of the European Commission, Jos"� Manuel Barroso and EU Commissioner for Enlargement and European Neighbourhood, Stefan Fule.

The European Parliament adopted the Resolution on the elections in Georgia on  October 26, 2011 in Strasbourg.

After long process of preparatory talks, in December 2011, EU took a decision to start official negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free trade Area (DCFTA) with Georgia. First round of negotiations took place in Tbilisi end of March, 2012. In order to successfully meet with all necessary prerequisites of DCFTA, such as: perfection of legislation, effective functioning of relevant institutions, ensuring high standards of quality control on Georgian products, etc. it is very important that the business community is closely involved in the negotiation process on DCFTA. Therefore, close cooperation between business community, the Government of Georgia, European Commission and other stakeholders is crucial. In the light of the above-stated developments in EU-Georgia trade relations, EUGBC took decision to establish a business driven Working Group to support and further facilitate the EU-Georgia trade relations including negotiations on DCFTA.

On April 23, 2013 EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) organized a meeting of members with Ambassador Philip Dimitrov, Head of the EU Delegation to Georgia at Tbilisi Marriott Hotel.

Are you interested in doing business with Belgian or Dutch companies? Then is this the opportunity to participate in the business to business meeting at the Holiday Inn Hotel in Tbilisi. In the framework of the East Invest – Twinning program, an initiative of the European Union and managed by the consortium headed by Eurochambres, a trade mission from Belgium and The Netherlands will be in Georgia on December 10 – 12.

The EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) together with the EU Delegation in Georgia organized a workshop on “EU-Georgia trade relations: How to export to the European Union” on 4^th of December, at the Courtyard Marriott, Tbilisi.

The next round of the negotiations between Georgia and EU on Association Agreement (AA), integral part of which is the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), took place in Tbilisi on October 23, 2012. For this occasion Gunnar Wiegand, Director for Russia, Eastern Partnership, Central Asia, Regional Cooperation and OSCE of European External Action Service (EEAS), Chief Negotiator on AA with Georgia from EU side visits Georgia. EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) took this opportunity and organised the meeting of the Members of the EUGBC Board and the DCFTA Working Group (WG) with EU official. The meeting took place on October 24, 2012 at the EU Delegation in Tbilisi. Head of EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Philip Dimitrov took part in the meeting. 

For the occasion of the third round of negotiations on Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between Georgia and EU taking place in Tbilisi in the end of September, EUGBC organized a meeting of the business community in Georgia with the EU negotiation team. The business representatives met with Mr. Philippe Cuisson, Representative of Directorate General for Trade (DG Trade) of European Commission (EC), Chief Negotiator on DCFTA with Georgia from EU side, and the colleagues from different services of EC. The event was held on September 28, 2012 at EUGBC member TBC Bank.

On 12^th of July 2012, members of EUGBC Working Group on DCFTA held a working meeting with the Chief Negotiator on DCFTA from Georgia, Deputy Finance Minister, Tamar Kovziridze.

On 9^th of July 2012, members of EUGBC Working Group on DCFTA held a working meeting with Virginie COSSOUL, Trade Officer at the EU Delegation in Georgia.

On 27^th of June, 2012, EUGBC Chairman Emmanuel Haton and EUGBC Secretary General, Konstantin Zaldastanishvili held a meeting with Levan Gogodze, Commercial Director of state owned Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC). The meeting was hosted in the GOGC headquarters in Tbilisi.

On 27^th of June 2012, the Chairman of EUGBC Board and EUGBC Secretary General met with the Deputy Head of Mission of the British Embassy in Georgia, Mr. Douglas McMillan. The meeting was hosted by the British Embassy in Tbilisi. At the meeting, Secretary General introduced to the Deputy Ambassador Mr. Emmanuel Haton, new Chairman of EUGBC Board. He also briefed Mr. McMillan on the activities of EUGBC with respect to promoting trade and economic relations between EU and Georgia. Secretary General stressed that developing bilateral relations with EU member states is very important. Therefore, for EUGBC it is crucial to maintain close contacts with the British Embassy in Tbilisi and exchange information on a regular basis.

On 26^th of June 2012, EUGBC Core Member, Emmanuel Haton and EUGBC Secretary General, Konstantin Zaldastanishvili held a meeting with the Head of EU Delegation to Georgia, Ambassador Phillip Dimitrov and Head of Division for Eastern Partnership countries at the European External Action Service, John Kjaer. Meeting took place at the EU Delegation to Georgia.

On 26^th of June 2012, the Annual Members’ Meeting was held at EUGBC member TBC Bank in Tbilisi. The meeting was opened and chaired by Badri Japaridze, Vice Chairman of the EUGBC Board. At the meeting, EUGBC members discussed Report of the Board of Directors for the period of 2011-2012. Members also approved amendments to the Articles of Association following to what the possibility of inviting EUGBC Honorary Members in the Board of Directors has been introduced. In addition, Members approved the Annual accounts of EUGBC as of 31 December 2011 and the budget of EUGBC for financial year 2012. New Board of Directors, including Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board was also elected.

In the framework of EUGBC dialogue with the EU Member States’ Embassies in Georgia, EUGBC Board Members met with the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Italy to Georgia, Federica Favi on 8^th of May 2012, at the Ambasciata d'Italia in Tbilisi.

In scope of the visit of the Board Members to Brussels, EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC) organized a roundtable meeting on EU-Georgian Business relations and doing business in Georgia. The event took place on November 23 in Brussels.