MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Another session of the Advisory Council on Trade Issues was held in an expanded format at the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia. The meeting, which was chaired by the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Genadi Arveladze, was attended by representatives of electric-cable companies in Georgia with the permanent staff of the council.

Two important researches were subject to discussion at the meeting: Non-Tariff Barriers to Exports of Electric Power Supply Cables from Georgia to Turkey and Georgia-China Free Trade Agreement Opportunities in DCFTA Context. The researches were prepared by TBSC Consulting Company under the initiative of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia with the support of USAID Governance for Development project. 

Talking about the results of the researches, the Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Genadi Arveladze noted that as a result of the introduction of free trade regime with China, a new 1.4 billion USD consumer market for Georgian products has been created. According to the Deputy Minister, signing of the free trade agreement with China has also created new opportunities in Georgia covering several directions including production, investment and trade.

According to Genadi Arveladze, the competitive entrepreneurial environment and the liberal market policy allow the European and Chinese companies to export and import goods and services in the markets of each other through implementing the investments in Georgia. As the Deputy Minister added, today's research has identified important sectors in which investing and development can be the subject of interest to Chinese companies.

Non-Tariff Barriers to Exports of Electric Power Supply Cables from Georgia to Turkey was also discussed at the meeting.

As it was noted at the meeting, such meetings are intended to be held with the private sector in the future.