MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Kobulia and the Minister of Industry and Trade of the Czech Republic, Marta Nováková discussed bilateral trade and economic relations and possibility of Czech production in Georgia.

The sides positively evaluated bilateral ties in foreign trade, which is characterized by dynamic growth during the recent years. It was noted that in the first seven months of 2018, the trade turnover between Georgia and the Czech Republic is increased by 35%, while the export volume from Georgia is increased by 9%. At the same time, the sides focused on cooperation in the field of investments. Investments from the Czech Republic in 2017 amounted to 142.5 million USD, which is by 64% higher number compared to the same period of the previous year.

Following the meeting, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Kobulia gave more than positive evaluation of the meeting with the Czech colleague. “Czech Republic is one of our largest partners in terms of trade and investments. We have identified a number of projects that will help us double our relationship with Czech Republic. It is not only about trade, but also about transferring Czech investments and technologies to Georgia. The Republic of Czech is one of the countries that is proud of its technologies. At the meeting we were talking not only about them selling their products to us, but also about transferring the bringing the production and manufacturing to Georgia,” – the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia stated.

“We have excelent partnerships between Georgia and the Czech Republic. My visit serves to even more deepen this relationship. We have already discussed the possibilities of deepening cooperation in certain sectors of business,” – Marta Nováková, the Czech Minister of Industry and Trade stated after the meeting with Giorgi Kobulia. As Marta Nováková noted, the Czech companies are interested to participate in state tenders on supplying electric buses to Tbilisi and Batumi.

“We are interested, like the Energo Pro, in operating here. I am accompanied by 25 entrepreneurs and they are interested in starting a new business. We discussed the prospects of establishing of joint ventures of the Czech Škoda Auto and Georgian companies and these joint ventures would produce the locomotives of the highest quality and standards. These locomotives will be used for Georgian Railways as well as be exported to the neighboring countries, including Russia, Ukraine and Azerbaijan. At the same time, the establishment of the joint ventures will facilitate employment,” – Marta Nováková noted.