President Saakashvili reiterated on December 13 that despite Russia’s economic embargo, Georgia is moving forward towards economic growth.

The Georgian leader made the remarks while touring western Georgia to attend the opening of some new enterprises in Tskaltubo, where a vegetable packaging factory was set up, Kutaisi, where a new branch office of ProCreditBank was inaugurated, and Kobuleti, where a fruit processing factory has been established. 
 
“Before Russia imposed an embargo against Georgia, 85% of this product [greens] was exported to Moscow. Our traditional consumers lost the opportunity of receiving Georgian greens. In place of this, we have found a new market for this product in Europe. From now on, we will supply our greens to Europe...If the Europeans taste our Georgian greens, I doubt that we will have enough greens for other markets,” Saakashvili said in Tskaltubo.
 
In Kutaisi Saakashvili said that expectations were high that Georgia’s credit rating would fall after Russia’s embargo, “but Georgia managed to maintain a positive credit rating, which means the allocation of further investments.”
 
Later on the same day, President Saakashvili said in Kobuleti, Adjara Autonomous Republic, that the country has recently managed to establish two new fruit processing factories, “which is a response to attempts to suffocate our economy.”