Gulf Cooperation Council Sec-Gen - Georgia, Gulf states have deepened ties
AlBudaiwi highlighted the importance of the Forum and noted the Silk Road was significant for the six countries of the Persian Gulf and played a “significant role” in relations between states. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi, the Secretary General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, on Thursday told a panel discussion within the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum that ties between Georgia and Gulf states had been “deepened”.
AlBudaiwi highlighted the importance of the Forum and noted the Silk Road was significant for the six countries of the Persian Gulf and played a “significant role” in relations between states.
“[I]n 2017 we signed an action plan between the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf and Georgia, as a result of which relations were deepened and a free trade agreement was signed. We are working on new schemes, new plans to further deepen trade relations at the regional and international level”, he said.
The panel discussion also featured Genadi Arveladze, Georgia’s Deputy Economy Minister, Tomislav Momirović, the Minister of Internal and Foreign Trade of Serbia, as well as Erin Elizabeth McKee, the United States Agency for International Development Assistant Administrator for Europe and Eurasia, Lazăr Comănescu, the Secretary General of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organisation, and Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, the Minister of State for Foreign Trade, Minister in Charge of Talent Attraction and Retention of the United Arab Emirates.
The Speakers covered issues of international trade and “main aspects” of cooperation, and emphasised the Forum’s significance as an “important platform” for discussing the issues in a global setting.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Thursday said the interest shown for this year’s Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, an event hosting more than 2,000 delegates and guests from up to 60 foreign states, was “extremely high” and added the event’s attraction indicated Georgia’s growing role in the Black Sea region.
The fruitful cooperation in tourism and civil aviation and future prospects of partnership between Georgia and Saudi Arabia were discussed on Saturday by Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili and Sultan Al Musallam, the Saudi Arabia Deputy Minister of International Affairs.
Mikheil Khidureli, the Director of Enterprise Georgia, the state agency promoting entrepreneurship, investment and exports, on Wednesday said Saudi Arabia was a “one of the priority and strategic destinations” for Georgia’s investment and trade opportunities.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday met Ahmed Al Khateeb, the Minister of Tourism of Saudi Arabia, to discuss cooperation and define future plans.
Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Wednesday highlighted the emerging, “comprehensive” cooperation agenda with Saudi Arabia - the “leading economy” in the Persian Gulf and emphasised the importance of developing trade relations with this “largest country with a population of 40 million”.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Wednesday discussed economic relations between Georgia and Saudi Arabia at his meetings with the Minister of Investments Khalid Al-Falih and the Minister of Economy and Planning Faisal Fadil Al-Ibrahim.