A/HRC/44/43/Add.1 for investment. In 2020, it ranked seventh in ease of doing business in the world,1 and is the highest-ranked economy in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia region.2 6. Specific measures were introduced by the Government for the purpose of attracting foreign investment, such as reducing regulations, lowering taxes, simplifying the tax regime, establishing tax exemptions, fighting corruption and investing in infrastructure development. For example, “Georgia 2020”, the socioeconomic strategy adopted in 2014, prioritizes measures for promoting rapid economic growth and increasing the competitiveness of the private sector, developing human capital, facilitating access to finance and increasing the efficiency of public administration. A dedicated agency, the Entrepreneurship Development Agency, was established to facilitate private sector development. 7. Georgia enjoys a very close and positive relationship with the European Union, its largest trading partner providing over 100 million euros annually in technical and financial assistance.3 The European Union-Georgia Association Agreement, which entered into force in July 2016, is aimed at political association and economic integration. Article 231 of the Agreement contains a commitment to promote responsible business conduct in line with internationally recognized standards, including the Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights. III. Business and human rights chapter in the Human Rights Action Plan 8. In March 2018, the Government published the Human Rights Action Plan for 2018– 2020, in which it set out actions to be carried out by different public authorities to implement the 2014–2020 Georgian National Human Rights Strategy. A specific chapter on business and human rights is incorporated within the broader Human Rights Action Plan. The implementation of the Plan is monitored at ministerial level by the Human Rights Council of Georgia, established in July 2014 and chaired by the Prime Minister. 9. In 2014, the Human Rights Secretariat was created under the Administration of the Government and was assigned to coordinate the participation of State agencies and other stakeholders in the monitoring of the implementation of the Plan. 10. The business and human rights chapter was included in the Human Rights Action Plan at the initiative of the Civil Development Agency, a non-governmental organization, which also chairs the Global Compact Network Georgia. In 2017, a national baseline assessment on business and human rights was conducted jointly by the Civil Development Agency, the Public Defender of Georgia and the Human Rights Secretariat. The assessment informed the work of an informal interministerial working group that drafted a specific chapter on business and human rights. 11. While the Working Group welcomed the adoption of a chapter on business and human rights in the broader Plan, it remained concerned by the limited progress made in the effective implementation of that chapter. From the meetings with different ministries, it was clear that they had yet to take coordinated and decisive action to meet the objectives and targets assigned to them under the chapter. The absence of an appropriate institutional framework and adequate funding to ensure its effective monitoring and implementation were identified as main obstacles in that context. At the time of the visit, information on the budget allocated for the implementation of the chapter was not available. In addition, the Human Rights Council of Georgia had not met since 1 April 2015, even though in accordance with article 6 of its statute, it should meet every six months. In order to function effectively, it is critical for monitoring bodies to hold regular meetings. The Working 1 2 3 4 World Bank Group, “Doing Business 2020: Economy report – Georgia”. Available at www.doingbusiness.org (accessed on 16 April 2020). World Bank Group, “Doing Business 2019 Fact Sheet: Europe and Central Asia”. Available at www.doingbusiness.org (accessed on 16 April 2020). European External Action Service, “Georgia and the EU”, 2 August 2018.