Georgia, Uzbekistan Deepen Economic Ties Ahead of Presidential Visit, Kvrivishvili Says
By Messenger Staff
Thursday, July 2, 2026
Georgia's economic ties with Uzbekistan have expanded rapidly in recent years, and both countries have made a political commitment to deepen that relationship further, Georgian Dream Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said at the Georgia-Uzbekistan Business Forum in Tbilisi.
Kvrivishvili noted that the forum comes at a significant moment, with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev set to arrive in Georgia for an official state visit on July 2. She welcomed her counterpart, Minister Kudratov, who is visiting Georgia for the first time, along with Uzbekistan's deputy economy minister, foreign minister, ambassadors and chamber of commerce representatives.
"Our bilateral relations with Uzbekistan have flourished for years," she said. "It is, of course, a momentous occasion for our country to host His Excellency, the President of Uzbekistan, on an official visit tomorrow." She added that forums bridging government-to-government and business-to-business cooperation are essential to delivering steady economic growth.
Kvrivishvili said diversifying Georgia's economy remains a core government priority, with Uzbekistan standing out as a key partner in Central Asia. She said trade, transport and tourism links between the two countries are growing on a near monthly basis, and that a one-year development roadmap covering trade, transport, logistics, hospitality and investment will be signed during the presidential visit.
She went on to describe Georgia's broader economic trajectory, citing an average growth rate of 9.3% between 2021 and 2025, which she attributed to governance and a predictable investment climate. She said 2026 has continued that trend, opening with growth of 7.8%, driven by transport, logistics, IT, education, hospitality and foreign direct investment. Kvrivishvili pointed to IMF forecasts placing Georgia among the fastest-growing economies in the region and Europe through 2030, with average growth projected at 5.4%, and noted that Georgia drew $8.7 billion in FDI last year, with an FDI-to-GDP ratio that has averaged more than 6% since 2021.Q
On infrastructure, Kvrivishvili said Georgia plans to invest roughly $7 billion in transport and logistics through 2032, including new motorways, the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, an overhaul of Georgian Railway that will add 45 locomotives and nearly 1,500 carriages, and a new international airport in Tbilisi with capacity for 20 million passengers. She said the goal extends beyond handling rising cargo volumes tied to the Middle Corridor. "We do not want to be a mere transit corridor," she said. "We intend to be a dynamic hub capable of accumulating cargo, manufacturing goods, and remaining an unshakeably reliable ally for our partners in connecting East and West."
She closed by noting that partnerships with Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan are driving some of Georgia's fastest cargo growth, and said continued investment in infrastructure would let businesses expand freight capacity and logistics networks. "This collective effort ensures that our region and the Middle Corridor become not just highly competitive, but the premier, most reliable trade route on the map," Kvrivishvili said.
