Economy Minister: Georgia is only country having free trade deals with Europe, China

Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili on Saturday said Georgia was the only country having free trade agreements with both Europe and China, which created an opportunity for economic activity, “making the country attractive” in this regard.

Davitashvili noted the Middle Corridor, a multimodal transport corridor connecting China to Europe through the South Caucasus, was becoming “the most attractive and reliable” transport link between Europe and Asia, amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Georgia, as the critical, most important element of this [Middle] Corridor and one of the leading countries developing this route, is interesting for China [...] and the West [as well]”, the Minister said in an interview with the Public Broadcaster.

• Economy Minister highlights Middle Corridor as “effective way” to strengthen trade between Europe, Asia

For the first time, China declared the Middle Corridor as its “first priority” at the country’s “most important international platform” - the Belt and Road Forum in October, Davitashvili emphasised.

He added the Middle Corridor countries would have “an important agreement” at the beginning of 2024, that would define the “specific roles” of the countries in the development of the Corridor.