TURKISH BUSINESSMAN THINKS GEORGIA’S PRIVATISATION POLICY IRRESPONSIBLE
By M. Alkhazashvili
(Translated by Tiko Giorgadze)

The Messenger, Georgia
Nov 29 2006

In an interview with newspaper Kviris Palitra, Turkish furniture
manufacturer Sedat Shahinkai says the Georgian government has been
passing irresponsible privatisation policies. According to him,
investors are being selected based on how much they will pay without
regard for how interested they are in establishing a successful
business in the country.

Shahinkai thinks that in using these methods, the Georgian government
will not be able to develop business and establish a strong economy.

He believes that the major defect of Georgia’s economic policy is
to sell state property to companies registered in off-shore zones,
warning that the mistakes in the privatization process will create
problems for the country.

According to Shahinkai, the Laz Diaspora (an ethnic group in Turkey
closely related to the Georgians) have not been able to invest in
Georgia, while Russian and Armenian companies were able to make
serious investments in the Georgian economy.