The Tbilisi Silk Road Forum has established itself as a crucial venue for both regional and global collaboration, where ideas transform into tangible projects, noted Irakli Kobakhidze, the Prime Minister of Georgia, during his keynote speech at the forum’s opening. The prime minister highlighted the significance of hosting the event in Georgia, a country historically serving as a bridge between Eastern and Western civilizations.
“For centuries, the Silk Road connected our nations, fostering trade, culture, ideas, and progress. In today’s era of global change with new challenges and opportunities, the historic Silk Road’s concept holds renewed importance. This year’s forum theme — Invest in Connectivity, Grow in Stability — mirrors these realities,” Kobakhidze remarked.
He stressed that the forum’s theme aligns with Georgia’s national policy. “As the world re-evaluates traditional trade routes and supply chains in search of new pathways, our focus is on ensuring and strengthening peace — the cornerstone for establishing Georgia as a robust economic and logistics hub in the region. We believe peace, stability, and predictability are our greatest offerings to partners and investors,” he continued.
The prime minister also pointed out Georgia’s active foreign policy and infrastructure advancements: “We have free trade agreements with the EU, China, the UK, the UAE, and various regional partners. We are executing large-scale infrastructure projects — enhancing ports, modernizing railways, and establishing digital and energy corridors like the Black Sea Submarine Cable Project, linking the region’s renewable energy to European markets. These developments create unique business opportunities.”
Kobakhidze expressed gratitude to the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan, Nikol Pashinyan and Ali Asadov, and other high-ranking delegates, for their participation.
The Fifth Tbilisi Silk Road Forum has attracted around 2,000 political and business leaders from over 60 countries, underscoring Georgia’s rising role as a central figure in global connectivity and economic cooperation.
