Agro Perspectiva

Ukraine, Georgia deepen cooperation within various spheres

27.11.2017 11:36 "Agro Perspectiva" (Kyiv) — As of today, while on a official visit to Georgia, and while speaking within a meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili, Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groisman has said mutually beneficial development of the potential of Ukraine and Georgia as well as the joint implementation of projects in various sectors, primarily of transport infrastructure and transit capacities, are necessary to enhance cooperation between the two countries, to boost mutual trade turnover and to offer new trade routes to the world, Government Portal reports. It is to be admitted, the meeting of the Heads of Government was the first on the program of an official visit of Volodymyr Groisman to Georgia. As to the report, among the most promising areas for cooperation, building of the transit capabilities of the two countries was discussed. Groisman said that combination of geographical and transport potential of Kyiv and Tbilisi could and should become a major component of the New Silk Road international initiative. The Head of Government of Georgia agreed to this and added, «The New Silk route is impossible without Ukraine. You have transport communication with the European Union, we have communication with China, in which a duty-free regime is in effect». So, Groisman reminded that this year Sept a Memorandum on cooperation between PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia, JSC Georgian Railways and JSC Azerbaijan Railways had been signed in Odessa, which would promote the development of railway routes through the Caucasus towards Ukraine and the European Union and in the reverse direction. «We have preliminary agreements on the formation of joint transport structures, a tariff policy. It is crucial to accelerate this process. I believe that our negotiations will give an additional impetus to this process,» Groisman highlighted. As to the report, Groisman emphasized Georgia is among the top 20 promising markets for Ukrainian exports, which is reflected in the indicators of mutual trade: so, last year the trade turnover between the countries amounted to almost US$500 million; within this year first 7 months, the trade turnover has already exceeded US$345 million. «At present, we set the task to bring the trade turnover to US$1 milliard. Agriculture, tourism, energy are among the fruitful areas of cooperation,» the Ukrainian PM stressed. «The issues of economic cooperation are of high priority. Our team is ready for concrete decisions, which will allow to deepen our countries’ relations,» Groisman added.