Georgian PM, Belarusian Vice PM welcome increasing trade relations

Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili has hosted Belarusian Deputy Prime Minister Mikhail Rusyi in Tbilisi today.

Increasing trade-economic relations between the two nations was the focus of the meeting.

Rusyi said that in 2017 the Georgia-Belarus trade turnover was $100 million USD and the aim is for this number to double next year.

"This is possible and we will achieve this. This will create new jobs and additional income for our people”, Rusyi said.

He added that Belarus sees Georgia as a friendly nation with whom the country has always cooperated and will cooperate in the future.

Kvirikashvili also welcomed the increasing trade and economic relations with Belarus.

"I want to assure you in the name of the whole government of Georgia that having good bilateral relations with our friendly nation is among our top priorities”, he told the guest.

Kvirikashvili thanked Rusyi for the "quick and professional” help from Belarus when Georgia fought a massive forest fire this August. During the Borjomi Gorge wildfire in south-central Georgia, Belarus sent a helicopter to assist Georgian firefighters.

Meanwhile today, the Culture Ministers of Georgia and Belarus signed an agreement on cooperation between the two agencies.