Invest in Adjara 2 0 0 7 Invest in Adjara Batumi, Adjara 2007 www.adjara.gov.ge Chairman of the Government of Autonomous Republic of Adjara Levan Varshalomidze Dear Investor, implement approximately 180 million EUR investments next three years, whereas, invest- The Autonomous Republic of Adjara is an im- ment potential of the Region is several billions portant Black Sea region of Georgia both in of EUR. It should be mentioned that both terms of its geopolitical location and dynamic Georgian and foreign capitals are involved economic growth. into the privatization process in the Region. Positive reforms taking place in the country’s Unique location of Adjara gives easy access to economy, as well as, restructuring public local and international markets. Mild climate, sector and employing qualified civil servants, rich natural resources, highly qualified labor adopting liberal Tax and Customs Code, also and developed transportation infrastructure is rapid infrastructural developments, estab- a key to your success. lishing transparent and equal conditions for businesses lead to commissioning of new We express our readiness to initiate real busi- enterprises and creating of new jobs. ness relationships. We believe that informa- tion offered to you in present leaflet covering Adjara’s annual GDP growth rate equals to vast potential and possibilities of our region 8-10 per cent. The Region offers advanta- will impress you. geous preconditions for development of ser- vices, tourism, industry and agriculture. The We shall make your visit successful! privatization process is underway and private sector is rapidly developing. During the last 3 years up to 300 small and large enterprises Welcome to Adjara! were privatized, the total revenues reached 40 million EUR. For that period some 30 million EUR worth investments were input- ted in privatized enterprises. It is expected to Strategic Geographic Location Georgia is a bridge connecting several eco- nomic regions and is a particularly important transit country. Located at the crossroads of Europe and Asia, it serves as a natural transport corridor. Georgia is the shortest transit route between the West and Central Asia for trans- portation of oil and gas as well as dry cargo. 4 WELCOME TO ADJARA Adjara IS AN AUtoNomoUS cient historic and ethnographic part of Georgia rePUBLIC WITHIN GeorgIA. nowadays being on the territory of Turkey) to the East. • Administrative centre: Batumi • Adjara is situated to the south-west of Present Adjara consists of five regions: Kobuleti, Georgia; Khelvachauri, Shuakhevi, Khulo, and Keda. Ac- • Total area: 3 thousand sq. km (4.2per cent cording to the 2002 census of enumeration data of total area of Georgia); the population of the Region consists of 400 • Population: over 400 thousand people thousand people. (82per cent Georgians); • Borders with Turkey to the South; Adjara historically and geographically used to • Total border length: 270 km including 67 belong Highland Kartli, particularly Meskheti km marine; Princedom. Ancient historical scripts mention • Administrative division: 1 administrative Adjara as “Land of Adjara”, “Adjara George”, centre – Batumi, and 5 administrative “Adjara Valley”. It used to divide into two parts, regions (Khulo, Shuakhevi, Keda, Khel- Highland Adjara, and Lowland Adjara. The cen- vachauri, Kobuleti), also 7 town type settle- tral part was called Shuakhevi. The central part ments; of Highland Adjara used to be Didadjara, then • Urban population: 48per cent; Khikhani in the Middle Ages, and later - Khulo. Adjara is an Autonomous Republic within The first Adjaran settlements are found in the Georgia. It borders with Guria to the North, Paleolithic Age. Early forms of manufacturing Samtskhe - to the South, and Shavsheti (an- are developed in the Neolith Age (VII-VI cc 5 Invest in Adjara BC) there. The settlement turns into a metal- The most significant part of Adjaran history is logenic province creating the well-known the Late Ancient Age (I-IX cc AD). According Colchetian Bronze Culture in the Bronze Ages to Byzantine historian Procopy Caesarian (VI c (V-II cc BC). The first cradle of Georgian AD) Gonio-Apsaros became a rather developed statehood, Diaochi and Colcha kingdoms, city settlement having its own theatre and hip- was rocked at the Chorokhi River basin in podrome during that period. II c BC. Early Georgian kingdoms had close relationships with such ancient civilizations as Pursuant to historical notes, Adjara was the first Shumeri, Asureti, Kheta, Urartu, Greek and Georgian region where Christianity was spread Roman empires. Those relations are preserved by Apostle Andrew the First Called, Apostle in mythological legends, ancient architecture, Simon of Cannes, and Apostle Mathias in I c toponimic sources, and the Georgian language. AD. According to historic scripts dated back to Such Greek myths as about Prometheus, Ar- IV c AD by Sophrone, Apostle Andrew preached gonauts, and motives by Homer’s Odyssey are Christianity through Greater Sebastopol, i.e. associated with the Region. Adjara used to be Tskhumi, also in Apsaros Fortress, current the early centre of bronze and steel manufac- Gonio, and along the River Phazisi. Sophrone turing in the ancient world. The Region had writes about St. Mathias, “He preached the New close trade and manufacturing relations with Testament to the Second Ethiopia, i.e. Colcheti, ancient centers of Greece and Rome. Most of where Apsaros Fortress stands. St. Mathias died land, marine, and river routs, including Trans- and was buried there.” According to the Kartli Caucasian Route, passed through Adjara. The Chronicles, Apostle Andrew the First Called routs connected powerful and wealthy Kartli together with Apostle Simon form Cannes visited Kingdom through the Ponto Sea, the River Trabzon, and then “a land of Didadjara”. Phazisi, the River Mtkvari, the Caspian Sea, and Middle Asia further to Persia, India, and Adjara used to be a developed region during the China. Feudal Age. It was a highly developed cultural region at the time. There was developed archi- According to notes dated back to III-II cc BC tecture, literature, carpentry, handicraft, leather by Leonti Mroveli, Odzrikhi Princedom in- processing and manufacturing, etc. The region cluded Adjara. The Princedom itself was part of involved into the process of creation the unitary the Kartli Kingdom reigned by King Parnavaz. Georgian Kingdom of Kartli during I-VI cc AD. 6 Welcome to Adjara Petra-Tsikhisdziri became an important town and significant landmark of Egrisi Princedom Adjara Coastline The Adjara Coastline is 67km long and is during Byzantine-Persian War in VI c AD. stretched from the South (the Georgian - Adjara was a Georgian Princedom in VII c. It Turkish frontier) to the North up to the river became a part of the Kingdom of Georgia under Choloki (Guria-Adjara administrative border). reign of the Bagrationis from VIII c. From the Adjaran coastline is rapidly developed, both in middle of XI c Highland Adjara, together with terms of its speed and scale. Adjara has sought Klarjeti and Shavsheti, was part of the Abuseris- to diversify and revive itself initially as a tourism dzes Princedom. It became a part of Samtskhe- destination. Since infrastructure development Saatabago Princedom from XIII c. A famous is vital, the Government of Adjara is currently philosopher, writer, and scientist Tbel Abuseris- reconstructing and building coastline highways dze lived and created in Highland Adjara during to facilitate easy access to different cities of that period. Tbel Abuserisdze drew most of new the region. The littoral development is based astronomic calendar 350 years earlier than Pop on high skill and experience share. Still there Gregory XII that made it necessary to change is need in project management and financing, the calendar in XVI c. expertizing in order to diversify the investment base. Developers and investors are looking to From the second half of XVI c Adjara was expanding their activities on Adjaran coastline. invaded by Ottomans. They separated Adjara into Highland Sanjak and Lowland Sanjak and joined to Akhaltsikhe Vilayet. Islam was spread Mountainous Region in Adjara from the end of XVII c. Despite Islam, the local population preserved national Development The Adjaran mountainous regions are at a short traditions, customs and habits, and the native proximity from the coastline. The priority is Georgian language. to promote this particular territories through the development of upmarket residential and After the Russian-Turkish War, 1877 - 1878, entertainment centres, hotel resorts, notably in Adjara was rejoined to Georgia. There was be- the upper zone of the whole coastline. Accord- gun development of local industry and economy ing to our master planning the Cultural villages there. The Black Sea shore and developed ma- can be developed in mountainous regions that rine routs together with the worldwide impor- tant Batumi Sea Port supported to turning the region into a highly developed area. From the early XX c. Batumi District was in- volved into great political and public activities. Troubles resulted in ceasing their activities by most of foreign companies that negatively influ- enced on the city’s development. Adjara turned into a battle arena for alien states during the World War I. In July 1920, Adjara together with other ter- ritories of the south-western Georgia was again within the borders of the Democratic Republic of Georgia. Since the 6th May 2004 Rose Revolution Adjara is free from long-term feodal and anti state rules and stands on the way of democratic reforms. 7 Invest in Adjara will be distinctive from neighbouring coastline de- velopment projects. Cultural Village will celebrate Batumi - Black Sea Pearl Batumi is first mentioned by Aristotle in his writ- Adjara’s own heritage as well as modern interna- ten scripts dated back to IVc. Ancient Batumi, a tional culture. To this end, the development will settlement within the Kingdom of Colchida was include restaurants and cafes, amphitheatres for situated on the bank of the River Korolistskali.