Georgian-Azerbaijani cooperation boosts investments in Georgia

Azerbaijani companies are planning to increase their investments in Georgia, says Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili as he ends his official visit to Baku.

Garibashvili rounded off his two-day visit to the capital of Azerbaijan, during which he met with a number of Azerbaijani high officials including President Ilham Aliyev and Prime Minister Artur Rasizade.

"This is my first official visit to Baku [and] we discussed many issues and reaffirmed that we are strategic partners,” Garibashvili told reporters today.

"Georgia is a reliable partner of Azerbaijan. It is planned that Azerbaijani companies will increase investments in Georgia’s economy,” Garibashvili said.

Within his meeting with Prime Minister Rasizade, Garibashvili discussed the idea of deepening economic, trade and politics relations. Afterwards, the Georgian delegation met Azerbaijani cabinet members and discussed specific ways to improve the level of cooperation between the two countries.

An extended meeting of Georgian and Azerbaijani Ministers' Cabinet members in Baku. Photo by PM's press-office

Special focus was drawn to the countries’ partnership in the energy sector as well as the Shah Deniz energy project, in which energy generated in Georgia and Azerbaijan would be exported to Europe by means of expanding the South Caucasus Pipeline and construction of the Trans-Anatolian Gas Pipeline (TANAP) and the Trans-Adriatic Pipeline (TAP).

Garibashvili noted he would return to Baku on September 20 to attend the signing ceremony to mark the launch of the Southern Caucasus pipeline expansion project.

"This ceremony is further confirmation of the Georgian-Azerbaijani strategic partnership," he said.

Azerbaijan’s Energy Minister Natig Aliyev spoke highly of his meeting with the Georgian official and stressed the vast amount of benefits both countries could gain from cooperating together.

"We have great intentions to cooperate in the energy sector. First of all, this refers to the South Caucasus gas pipeline, through which 2.5 billion in direct investments will be carried out in Georgia,” he said.

PM Garibashvili looking at the White City Project of Baku. Photo by PM's press-office

Georgia’s Energy Minister Kakha Kaladze noted Georgia would be able to obtain five percent of the gas that travelled through the pipeline.

"So the more gas that passes through the pipeline, the more important it will be for Georgia,” he noted.

In Baku, Garibashvili and the 10-person Georgian delegation also attended the Azerbaijan International Defence Industry Exhibition (ADEX 2014), in which 200 companies from 34 countries took part.

Garibashvili was also introduced to the White City project - one of the largest projects in Baku – that combined hotels, residential apartments and recreational areas for people of all ages.

Before the Georgian delegation left Baku, Garibashvili honoured the grave of the late Azerbaijani leader Heydar Aliyev and his wife Zarifa.

PM Garibashvili honoring the graves of Heydar Aliyev and his wife Zarifa. Photo by PM's office

The Georgian delegation left Baku earlier today. The team were farewelled by Azerbaijan’s Vice Prime Minister Abid Sharifov and Ambassador to Georgia Azer Huseynoff at the Heydar Aliev International Airport.