Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, Meets with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán
By Liza Mchedlidze
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Gharibashvili had a meeting with Hungary's Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. During their in-person meeting, which occurred as part of Orbán's official visit to Georgia, they discussed the strong partnership between the two countries.
Gharibashvili highlighted that cooperation between the countries has advanced to a new level due to their joint efforts, which encompass regular reciprocal visits and the broadening of sector-specific connections.
"Both sides engaged in discussions about the potential for enhancing productive collaboration across various domains. As per Georgia's Prime Minister, the organization of an intergovernmental summit within Georgia is a tangible step toward realizing the strategic partnership declaration signed in Budapest, underscoring the commitment to deepening ties between Georgia and Hungary.
When discussing European integration, Irakli Gharibashvili emphasized Georgia's unwavering commitment to the European path. He outlined the measures taken by the Georgian government in this direction, highlighting that the government has ensured an open, transparent, and inclusive approach to achieving the 12 established priorities. Gharibashvili expressed the hope that by the end of the year, Georgia would receive a fair and merit-based decision from the European Union.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked Viktor Orbán for his firm support of our country's European integration and noted that Georgia appreciates the steadfast support of our friend Hungary on this path," the government's press release reads.
According to the statement, the parties reviewed the progress made in the direction of economic cooperation between Georgia and Hungary. It was highlighted that in 2023, trade turnover increased by 21%, reaching a total of 46.62 million dollars. Gharibashvili emphasized that Georgia and Hungary possess substantial potential for economic collaboration, and fully utilizing the available opportunities is crucial. According to him, Georgia is interested in attracting investments in sectors like renewable energy, logistics, tourism, and other areas.
Gharibashvili and Orbán discussed the dynamics of the Black Sea submarine electric cable project, which aims to connect the Caucasus region and Europe.
Gharbibashvili emphasized the importance of implementing flagship projects initiated by Georgia. He highlighted that these projects are essential for fully harnessing the energy potential and working towards common goals in the field of energy security.
