Russian Economy Minister Hails New Georgian Counterpart

The Russian Minister for Economic Development and Trade, German Gref, said the appointment of Kakha Bendukidze, the Russian-based tycoon, ?is definitely a positive step.?
 
?He [Kakha Bendukidze] is a very experienced person. I think this appointment is a very positive move,? the Russian news agency RIA Novosti quoted the Russian Minister as saying.
 
German Gref, who recently attended the Russian-Georgian Economic Forum in Tbilisi on May 28-29, said Bendukidze?s appointment ?will boost Russo-Georgian economic ties.?

Kakha Bendukidze, whos is a Russian citizen but a native Georgia, was appointed as Georgia’s Economy Minister on June.

The Russian media quoted Bendukidze as saying that he would ?pursue an ultra-liberal economic policy.?

Kakha Bendukidze, 48, has been involved in private businesses in Russia since 1990. He runs Russia’s largest private heavy engineering corporation, boasting an order book in excess of $1 billion.