ICC Georgia Chairman Fady Asly says foreign tourists and investors continue to be turned back at Georgia’s border without explanation - a problem that harms the country’s image and investment climate.
In an interview with BM.GE, Asly noted that ICC Georgia members increasingly report cases involving Indian and Kazakh nationals, as well as similar complaints communicated by ambassadors from several Arab countries. According to him, these practices negatively affect both tourism and investor confidence.
“The main challenges foreign investors face in Georgia start at the border. Many visitors, tourists, and foreigners are stopped and sent back without any justification. This has a very negative impact on tourism,” Asly said. “We’ve been told that two nationalities are most affected - Kazakhs and Indians. This is puzzling, especially since Georgia has spent significant money promoting itself as a tourist destination in India. When Indian travelers arrive with valid visas and are sent back, it damages the country’s image.”
Asly added that even investors face similar issues. Some discover that their residence permits have been revoked or that they are turned around at the airport after investing capital in the country. “No foreign investor feels confident investing in Georgia when such things happen. This has been a problem for 13–14 years. We keep talking about it, and nothing changes. This is one of the key reasons why FDI levels remain low,” he stated. He also noted that ambassadors from GCC countries have recently contacted ICC Georgia regarding their citizens being denied entry without explanation.
Speaking about ICC Georgia’s current work, Asly said the organization is active and expanding, with several major events planned. “On June 3 we will hold a Consultative Board meeting with ambassadors, heads of international financial institutions, our board, and commission chairs. On June 5, we are hosting a major international arbitration conference with leading arbitrators from Paris, Europe, the region, and the Middle East, organized in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce. We also have our General Assembly and a regional meeting in Paris. We are growing — many new companies are joining ICC, and we remain very active,” he added.
