MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Genadi Arveladze participated in the meeting dedicated to the ongoing processes regarding the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA).

The meeting was held in Rustavi city, the Kvemo Kartli Region and was organized by the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development with the support of the Kvemo Kartli Region Office and the EU-funded project “Facility for the Implementation of Association Agreement”. 

“We informed the businessmen operating in the Kvemo Kartli Region on the ongoing and scheduled reforms within the framework of the DCFTA as well as the challenges we will have to face in Georgia in terms of approximation of the existing legislation with the EU regulations. Such a dialogue with the business circles is very important since it facilitates the process of elimination of the difficulties that might emerge during the introduction of the new regulations in the country. At the same time, we have introduced them all the opportunities that the DCFTA can bring to businesses, including the access to the EU market if the production is of high standards and safe,” – the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Genadi Arveladze stated.

The Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development introduced the trade statistics between Georgia and the European Union, which illustrated the record volume of Georgia’s export to the EU countries. In particular, in 2018, Georgia’s export volume to the EU market amounted to 730,3 million USD, which is by 11,5% higher number compared to the same period of 2017 and totaling to 21,7 % of the country’s total exports.

“Free Trade Agreement has opened the way to Georgian entrepreneurs to the EU countries. More and more Georgian producers use this opportunity annually, which is reflected in positive dynamics in the export index. The EU market is not only a high-income market for Georgia, but also a stable market, which is even more important. I believe that the potential for bilateral trade is very high,” – Genadi Arveladze noted.
The meeting also focused on the use of the preferential trade regimes stipulated by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) between Georgia and the European Union.

Together with Genadi Arveladze, the president of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nino Chikovani and other officials also participated in the meeting.