Economy Minister of Azerbaijan visits Georgia, meets his colleague and PM Gakharia
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Tuesday, February 11
Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Turnava met with the Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan Mikayil Jabbarov, who is paying an official visit to Georgia.
During the meeting, ministers discussed the trade and economic relations of the two countries and focused on priority areas such as bilateral trade, energy, transport and logistics, investments, tourism and more.
“Economic relations are now, as never before, best between Georgia and Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has traditionally been a leader in bilateral trade relations. We carry out many joint economic, business and infrastructure projects,” said Turnava during the meeting. “Today more than 700 companies with Azerbaijani capital operate in Georgia and there are very good conditions for joint ventures as well as for Azerbaijani business in Georgia,” she added.
According to Turnava, the sides discussed cooperation on international recognition and development of the transport corridor passing through Georgia and Azerbaijan. “If our countries unite their efforts to increase the competitiveness of the common corridor, it will benefit both countries,” said the Minister.
At the meeting, the ministers also discussed other priority issues of relevance for the future sitting of the Georgian and Azerbaijani Governmental Commission, chaired by the prime ministers of the countries.
Minister Jabbarov also held a meeting with the Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia, where the positive dynamics of economic cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan and the main directions of the strategic partnership between the two countries were the main topics of discussion.
It was noted during the meeting that the trade and bilateral investment between the two countries are developing rapidly, as well as cooperation in the fields of energy corridors, logistics and transport.
The focus was on new initiatives aimed at cooperation between Georgia and Azerbaijan in the areas of port infrastructure, development of free industrial zones, import of electricity and transit.
The importance of the strategic partnership and the high level of mutual understanding between the two countries were emphasized, which allows for the efficient resolution of bilateral issues.
It was noted that successful economic relations will continue as new joint projects in the fields of transport, transit, logistics, communications and energy are currently in development.
Minister Jabbarov’s visit to Georgia is a follow-up to a meeting held between PM Gakharia and the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev at the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos. Earlier in January of this year, representatives of the two counties addressed major issues on the bilateral economic cooperation agenda.
The meeting held at the Government Administration of Georgia on February 10 was attended by Rovnag Abduliayev, President of SOCAR (State Oil Company of Azerbaijan); Javid Gurbanov; Chairman of the Azerbaijan Railways; Taleh Ziyadov, Director General of Baku Port; H.E. Dursun Hasanov, Ambassador of the Republic of Azerbaijan to Georgia.
From the Georgian side, the meeting was attended by Natia Turnava, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia; H.E. Zurab Pataridze, Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan; Irakli Chikovani, Foreign Affairs Adviser to the Prime Minister of Georgia; and David Peradze, CEO of Georgian Railway.
