International Investment Forum - Batumi 2015 has launched in Batumi. Over 250 representatives of investors from 15 states participate in the Forum. International Investors Association and its member companies’ representatives also attended at the International Investment Forum- “Batumi 2015. Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili welcomed the Forum participants and expressed gratefulness to the organizers of Batumi 2015 for holding such a large-scale event. Special thanks were addressed to the supporters of the Forum, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and its representative to Georgia – Bruno Balvanera and investment organizations operation in Georgia including Partnership and Co-investment Funds.  According to the Minister, in the terms of tourism, Adjara is the region of one of the prime interests and requires special the development of the investment projects and therefore, attraction of the investors.   Dimitri Kumsishvili stressed on the importance of the Investment Forum in Batumi – “We find any forum of outmost importance. At this Forum we shall offer interested investors the instruments we have in the country on this field. Issues related to the access to finance and the potential capacity of Adjara as well as the whole country shall also be discussed in details”.  Dimitry Kumsishvili discussed current business environment in Georgia and positive trend in this direction at the meeting with the investors. Namely, Georgia was ranked 15th place within 189 states in doing business while international rating agency Moody's Investors Service changed the status of sovereign rating of Georgia from stable to positive. As the Minister stated, despite external challenges, in 2014 Georgia’s economic growth was estimated as 4.7%. Georgian Government expects at least 2% growth of this indicator in 2015.  Dimitry Kumsishvili paid special attention to the volume of the direct investments. According to the data of the first two quarters of 2015 foreign direct investment amounted to 530 million US dollars, which is 5% higher than the same indicators in the previous year. The transportation, communication, finance and industry sectors have the largest contribution in those indicators.  The Minister also stresses on the growing number of international travels. In particular, according the data of 8 months, in 2015 almost 4 000 000 visitors visited Georgia and this number is 6% greater than the same indicator last year.  Investors participating in the Forum became especially interested in the government’s initiative aiming to support private entrepreneurs in different ways. The Minister noted a new initiative targeting on assisting hotel-development in the regions.  Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development also discussed the importance of the upcoming forums to be held in Georgia. Silk Road Forum that shall take place in Tbilisi on 15-16 October and will host about 600 participants from different countries was particularly stressed by the Minister.  Chairman of Adjara Government Archil Khabadze, Minister of Economy and Finance of Adjara A.R. Davit Baladze and the Director of Georgian National Investment Agency Giorgi Pertaia also addressed the Forum participant with welcoming speeches.