Minister of Economy meets Belarusian PM during official visit
By Nika Gamtsemlidze
Thursday, February 20
Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava met with the Belarusian Prime Minister Siarhiej Rumas in Belarus.
The Republic of Belarus is a significant, trustworthy and close partner for Georgia, as Turnava said during the meeting. The Minister also took the opportunity to once again thank the Belarusian side for supporting the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Georgia.
According to Turnava, Georgia and Belarus are currently stable trading partners, while noting that trade opportunities between the countries need to be utilized to their fullest. Turnava offered the Belarusian side to develop cooperation between the two countries in terms of free industrial and economic zones.
According to the Minister of Economy, the Belarusian Prime Minister and his team are keen to strengthen economic relations with Georgia and bring it to a significantly new level.
“Until now, we have mainly cooperated successfully with Belarus on technologies, agricultural equipment, and transportation. For example, Batumi was supplied with Belarusian-made environmentally-friendly electric buses. Now we have discussed how to enhance our relationship and cooperation in the logistics sector,” stated Turnava.
It is noteworthy that trade turnover in recent years has been characterized by an upward trend – in 2019 the trade turnover between the two countries amounted to USD 94.8 million (9% growth, 0.7% of total turnover). The main Georgian products exported to Belarus are mineral water, wine, spirits, nuts, etc.
The Prime Minister of Belarus, for his part, welcomed the stability of trade turnover between the countries. According to him, the Belarusian side is ready to become involved in supplying the Georgian agricultural sector with the latest agro-technical supplies, as well as in the joint development of techno-parks and scientific projects with the Georgian side.
“Georgia is a vital and established friend to us. It is important that we continually maintain a dialog on a high level. The trade turnover between our countries remains stable and the Georgian side is doing well and your export to Belarus is increasing year by year,” said PM Siarhiej Rumas during the meeting.
The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexandre Khvtisiashvili, Executive Director of the Partnership Fund Davit Saganelidze and Georgian Ambassador to Belarus Valeri Kvaratskhelia.
The official visit of Siarhiej Rumas to Georgia is scheduled for March 2020.
