Genadi Arveladze: “Georgia is an important partner to China in the region, which is a confirmation of their awareness about Georgia”

In December 2016, according to the poll results, which was initiated by the Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China was among the top ten economic events of China. Successful completion of negotiations on Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China was voted as one of the most important economic events of 2016 by the majority of the best-known social network users of China, Vasin.

Decision on launching negotiations on the Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China was first made in China, during the World Economic Forum 2015. Georgia is the first country in the region to sign the Free Trade Agreement with China. As a result, the world's largest market with about 1.4 billion consumers became available to the goods and services produced in Georgia.

'According to the survey results of the Ministry of Commerce of China, Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and China is among the major economic achievements, which means that Georgia is an important partner to China in the region, which is a confirmation of their high awareness about Georgia,' - Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Genadi Arveladze stated. As he also noted, trade and economic relations between the two countries got especially intense in the last 4 years.

'The role of Giorgi Kvirikashvili is particularly remarkable in the development of economic relations. Under his initiative, Feasibility Study of the Free Trade Area was launched in March 2015 during his visit to China. This was the result, which the government has carried out through the appropriate steps,'- Genadi Arveladze said. According to him, the report of a significant increase in exports with China is of great importance as well.

'There is almost 50% increase in export, which is very important. Among those products, which showed an increase in exports, we may mention the importance of wine, whose export has increased by almost 100%. As about 2016, in total 5 300 000 bottles of Georgian wine were exported to the Chinese market. We also exported the manganese oxide to China for the first time, which is very important for emerging the new products on the Chinese market,'- Arveladze stated.

The Deputy Minister also talked about the increased export of alcoholic beverages, which has increased by 15, including beer, copper ore, etc. 'This means that the exported goods obtain their position on the Chinese market which helps us to increase our export products. China is also very important to cooperate with on the Silk Road Project. We are an important and interesting partner in this regard. Free Trade will be a contributing factor in order to let Georgia remain stable and important partner in the region,'- Genadi Arveladze stated.

According to him, about 14 000 visitors from China visited Georgia which resulted in a 46% growth in tourism with China. This growth has been favored by a direct flight of Tbilisi-Urumqi-Beijing, which is available to passengers since September 23.

Additional Information: Negotiations on Free Trade Agreement with China were officially finished on October 5, 2016, which was followed by the Memorandum of Understanding signed by the Deputy Prime Minister of Georgia, Dimitry Kumsishvili and the Minister of Commerce of China, Gao Hucheng. At this stage, only legal procedures are remained to be signed by the both parties.

Upon the completion of these procedures, the Agreement will be ready to be signed and ratified by the legislative bodies of the both countries.