There is mutual understanding on the expansion and deepening of Armenia-Georgia economic relations - Deputy PM

There is mutual understanding on the issue of expanding and deepening Armenia-Georgia economic relations, discovering the unrealized potential, using the opportunities arising from it more effectively, ARMENPRESS reports Deputy Prime Minister Hambardzum Matevosyan said in his speecha t the 11th Armenian-Georgian Intergovernmental Commission, held during PM Nikol Pashinyan’s visit to Georgia.

“Honorable Mr. Prime Minister Pashinyan,

Honorable Mr. Prime Minister Garibashvili,

Dear colleagues,

Ladies and gentlemen,

First of all, I would like to thank the Prime Minister of friendly Georgia, His Excellency Garibashvili, and the Government of Georgia for the warm welcome.

The holding of the 11th sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Georgia at the highest level speaks of the mutual readiness to strengthen and develop the special friendly relations between the two countries.

The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 had a negative impact on the world economy, without bypassing the Armenian-Georgian trade and economic relations. However, due to the anti-epidemic strategy of our countries and the implemented measures, in 2021, against the same period last year, we recorded over 40% increase in bilateral trade turnover. This dynamic, of course, inspires optimism, proving that the adopted guidelines are justified and in line with the challenges.

There is a mutual understanding on the issue of expanding and deepening the Armenian-Georgian economic relations by discovering the unrealized potential and using the opportunities arising from it more effectively. Therefore, the agenda of today's sitting of the Intergovernmental Commission attaches significant importance to the promotion of mutual investments, strengthening of business ties, creation of more favorable conditions for business, interdepartmental cooperation, development of joint economic programs.

We attach great importance to the development of transport and communication routes between the two countries, where we have successful results, considering the resumption of regular flights between Armenia and Georgia starting from March 2021, reopening of the passenger railway starting from June 2021 and the increase in the volume of cargo transportation by land in 2021 compared to the same period of 2020.

We also highlight the strengthening and development regional cooperation. There is mutual interest in this issue to ensure the necessary involvement in international transport and communication programs, such as the participation of Armenia and Georgia in the North-South, Persian Gulf-Black Sea international transport corridor programs.

One of the issues on the agenda of today's sitting is the cooperation in the energy sector, taking into account the economic and security components of the latter. The development of cooperation between Armenia and Georgia in the fields of digitalization, telecommunications, high technologies and cyber s...