Georgia-China trade turnover up 400% following trade deal - PM
“China can easily become Georgia’s number one trading partner if we continue to export more quality products to China and vice versa", said PM Garibashvili. Photo: PM's press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said in an interview with China Central Televsion the trade turnover between Georgia and China had grown by 400 percent following the signing of the free trade agreement between the two countries in 2018, adding China had “very rapidly” become the third-largest trading partner of Georgia.
China can easily become Georgia’s number one trading partner if we continue to export more quality products to China and vice versa. There is a big potential, and I believe in this potential, and that is why I am so passionate about the potential that comes from the free trade agreement”, he said.
Garibashvili noted it was him who had started negotiations in 2015 for signing the free trade agreement with China.
This was the first free trade agreement in Eurasia. We were privileged and lucky enough to have this kind of agreement. The result is very tangible”, he said, adding his Government “fully supported” increasing economic relations with China.
Garibashvili said he encouraged more Georgian companies to export goods to China, naming wine as an example.
Georgia is indeed the birthplace of wine. We are proud of it, and therefore we need to promote Georgian wine in China. We are considering opening tourism centres in different cities of China and promoting Georgian wine - and simply Georgia - because the country can be more interesting for Chinese tourists”, the official told the interview.
He also added “we want to see more Chinese citizens visiting us, more tourist agencies to open their offices and promote Georgia, and vice versa”.
Garibashvili said Georgian companies could also export “quality agricultural goods”, gold and copper to China, highlighting “diverse opportunities” for bilateral trade between the countries.
Irakli Kobakhidze, the head of the ruling Georgian Dream party, on Tuesday said establishing a strategic partnership with China was “one of the most important foreign policy achievements” of Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Strategic partnership and cooperation in trade and economic relations were discussed on Monday in a meeting between the Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and his Chinese counterpart Li Qiang.
China is Georgia's top trading partner by exports in 2020, show the preliminary data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (Geostat).
Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China has come into play on January 1, 2018, making Georgia the first country in the region to have such a deal with China.
Georgian external trade turnover amounted to $12.09 billion in January-July 2023, posting a 18 percent increase year-on-year, the Georgian National Statistics Office revealed on Monday.
Turkey ($1.68 billion), Russia ($1.50 billion) and the United States ($1.02 billion) were the top trading partners of Georgia in its total external trade turnover in 2022, preliminary data from the National Statistics office of Georgia show.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Tuesday praised China’s “rich history and culture” and its “incredible achievements”, while also saying the recently signed strategic deal with Beijing could ensure “prosperity and mutual benefits”, in his address at an official reception in Tbilisi dedicated to the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China.
Priority areas of economic cooperation were discussed on Monday in a meeting between Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Wang Wentao, the Chinese Minister of Commerce, the Georgian Ministry of Economy said.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday said the Government was paying “special attention” to strengthening the country's transit function.