By Dr. Sebastian von Münchow
College of International and Security Studies  
George C. Marshall European Center for Security Studies

TBILISI, Georgia (July 12, 2018) – Marshall Center’s Black Sea and Eurasia Outreach team hosted an Economic Security Conference July 11 and 12 in Tbilisi, Georgia.

The goals of the conference were to assess economic conditions and developments in the Black Sea and Eurasia region, enhance understanding of major transnational economic security issues affecting the region, and analyze opportunities for national, regional and European policies to advance economic security.

More than 20 participants from Armenia, Azerbaijan, Bulgaria, Georgia and Romania attended the conference.

Jeff Reneau, acting deputy chief of mission at the U.S. Embassy Tbilisi, gave opening remarks.

Dr. Valbona Zeneli, director of the Marshall Center’s Black Sea and Eurasia Outreach Program, also gave opening remarks and presented the first session on “Economic Security in a Globalized World: Drivers and Challenges.”

Kornely Kakachia, executive director of the Georgian Institute of Politics in Tbilisi, presented on “Security Challenges in the Black Sea Region.”

Dr. Sebastian von Münchow, Marshall Center professor, and Veronica Lee from the U.S. Agency for International Development, presented on “Good Governance and Rule of Law for Economic Development.”

Liza Tavdumazde, head of the Investment Department at Enterprise Georgia, presented “The Role of Foreign Direct Investment for Development.”

Julian Groza, executive director for the Institute for European Policies and Reforms in Moldova, presented on “Regional Economic Integration Dilemma: European Union and Eurasian Economic Union.”

Dr. Nona Mikhelidze, from the Istituto Affari Internazionali in Italy, presented on “Energy Security.”

Theresa Fallon, from the Centre for Russia Europe Asia Studies in Belgium, presented on “China’s Role in the Black Sea-Region.”