MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, within a working visit to the United Arab Emirates, held meetings with representatives of the UAE government agencies and private companies.

Deputy Minister, within the framework of the visit, met with the Minister of State for Economy and Trade of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates, Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh and discussed with the priority areas of bilateral economic cooperation.

Signing of the Agreement on Comprehensive Economic Partnership between the countries was positively evaluated at the meeting. It was noted that the agreement will encourage bilateral trade relations, increase the export of Georgian products to the Emirates, and have a positive impact on cooperation between the businesses. Domestic procedures are currently underway to implement the Agreement.

Attention was focused on cooperation in the field of investments. It was noted that the UAE is one of the largest investor countries in Georgia and this trend is increasing every year. It was noted at the meeting that in 2003-2022 over 1,1 billion US dollars came to Georgia from the Emirates.

The Minister of State of the Emirates positively assessed the investment environment of Georgia and noted that he supports the implementation of investments in various sectors of the country.

Cooperation in tourism and civil aviation sectors was named as another priority direction. It was noted that the number of passengers carried by direct regular flights between Georgia and the United Arab Emirates in January 2024 amounted to 47 084 passengers, which is by 17,1% more than in the same number compared to the same period of 2023. It was emphasized that 4 airlines fly daily from the Emirates to Georgia with a frequency of 37 flights a week, which was also reflected in the passenger flow - in 2023, by 24% more passengers arrived from the Emirates to Georgia than in 2022.

Attention was drawn to the fact that the popularity of Georgia as a tourist destination in the Emirates is increasing every year. Mariam Kvrivishvili expressed her hope that, taking into account this trend, both the frequency of flights and the number of tourists from the United Arab Emirates will increase in the summer season of 2024.

After the meeting, Mariam Kvrivishvili and Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh attended the signing of the Memorandum on the Tbilisi Dry Port, a large logistics project in the vicinity of Tbilisi. The project will be implemented by the largest Arab corporation ADP together with the Georgian partner Tbilisi Dry Port LLC. At the signing, it was noted that Tbilisi Dry Port envisages the development of integrated port-logistics facilities that will serve not only Georgia, but also the wider region. In particular, it includes container storage yards with an annual throughput of approximately 200 000 TEU and customs warehousing (class A and B warehouses with a total area of 12 300 m2).

At the signing ceremony, it was noted that the project will promote the Middle Corridor passing through Georgia and encourage other investors to invest in the transport and logistics sector of Georgia.

Within the framework of the visit, Mariam Kvrivishvili visited the port of Abu Dhabi and got acquainted with the port infrastructure. The Deputy Minister also examined the Free Economic Zone of Abu Dhabi.