MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

After a 14-year pause in the Turkish capital of Ankara, a meeting of the Joint Economic Commission was held.

Georgian and Turkish leaders – Giorgi Gakharia and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took the decision on holding the session of the Joint Economic Commission two weeks ago. Representatives of the economic and social government agencies of the two countries attended the meeting, which was last held in September, 2005.

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Natia Turnava and The Minister of Trade of Turkey, Ruhsar Pekcan co-chaired the session. 

It was noted at the meeting that Turkey is Georgia’s number one trading partner, but at the same time, it is important to increase the volume and range of the Georgian export at the Turkish market as well as the overall trade turnover between the countries. 

According to Natia Turnava, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, negotiations with Turkey on eliminating the technical barriers on exporting the products of animal origin are rather successfully. In addition, the Minister noted that there is a significant potential to increase the volume of exports from Georgia to the EU market through the cooperation of the two countries businesses circles. 

Signing of a protocol setting out all the main areas of bilateral socio-economic cooperation was held at the end of the session. Particular emphasis was paid to such sectors as trade, transport, logistics, energy, tourism and others. After the signing ceremony, Natia Turnava said that a document serving to the interests of the both countries was signed. At the end of the session, Natia Turnava invited her Turkish counterpart to Georgia.