60% of commitments under EU-Georgia free trade area deal met - Deputy Economy Minister
Genadi Arveladze, the Deputy Economy Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday briefed the Parliament’s European Integration Committee about the six-month implementation of the 2023 National Action Plan of DCFTA. Photo: European Integration Committee
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Genadi Arveladze, the Deputy Economy Minister of Georgia, on Wednesday told the Parliament's European Integration Committee that 60 percent of the country’s commitments made under the 2014 Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area deal with the European Union in terms of alignment of the domestic legislation with the bloc’s framework had been fulfilled.
Reporting to the Committee about the six-month implementation of the 2023 National Action Plan of the deal that came into force in 2016 as part of Georgia’s Association Agreement with the EU, the official noted the country’s trade turnover with the bloc had increased by 21 percent.
Speaking about measures implemented by the Government to support small and medium-sized businesses to increase their competitiveness, Arveladze briefed the lawmakers about specific supporting mechanisms offered to entrepreneurs through various programmes, including those ensuring their engagement in international exhibitions and fairs.
He noted the Government was working to develop a quality control infrastructure in line with the Free Trade Area deal to support domestic companies’ entry to the EU market, and was also conducting a market supervision reform.
The Government has made “significant progress” for labour rights protection, Arveladze also claimed in his comments to lawmakers.
Maka Botchorishvili, the Chair of the European Integration Committee, stressed the implementation of the deal could create conditions for the country’s integration into the EU single market, claiming the Government was taking “all necessary steps” to reach the goal.
The European Union market has been becoming “more stable and predictable” for Georgian exporters, increasing exports of goods to the EU countries to a “record” number, Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze said on Friday.
The Association Committee on Trade Issues, created within the 2014-signed Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area agreement between Georgia and the European Union, this week discussed the country’s implementation of its obligations under the deal in Brussels.
Seven years ago on June 27, Georgia signed the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union in Brussels, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell congratulated Georgia on the anniversary, calling the Association Agreement ‘the anchor of our close relationship’.
Deputy Minister of Economy Genadi Arveladze has met with media representatives on DCFTA matters on February 8-9 where one of the main issues he discussed was Georgian free trade agreements.
Positive economic trends in Georgia were discussed on Wednesday in a meeting of the Government’s Economic Council led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday highlighted the dynamics of Georgia's growing trade and economic relations with various countries and said products of Georgian origin could enter markets with 2.3 billion consumers under the free trade deals the Government had signed with different states.
Georgia’s Ministry of Economy on Wednesday said the European Union-Georgia Association Committee in Trade Configuration, a governing body for the implementation of Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area of the Association Agreement between the sides, had praised the fulfilment of the obligations undertaken by the country under the deal signed in 2014.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Saturday said obtaining the European Union membership candidate status by the country was “a successful completion” of one stage and the beginning of a new one on the EU integration path.