Georgian, Uzbek FMs Pledge to Deepen Ties

Georgian Foreign Minister Davit Zalkaliani is on his first official visit to Uzbekistan on September 11-13. Today, he met with his Uzbek counterpart, Abdulaziz Kamilov, and pledged to deepen bilateral ties.

According to the Georgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA), both countries are willing to deepen trade and economic relations. It also reported that Uzbekistan “is interested in using Georgia’s transit-transport potential, and the opportunities of the free trade agreement.”

Georgia’s trade turnover with Uzbekistan, according to the State Statistics Office Geostat), stood at USD 89.6 million in 2018, with exports at USD 80.5 million (USD 64.2 million in 2017) and imports at USD 9.1 million (USD 7 million in 2017).

The two foreign ministers also hailed tourism cooperation between their countries, especially after launching direct flights between Tbilisi and Tashkent. They agreed to elaborate a roadmap of bilateral cooperation as well.

“Uzbekistan is playing an important role in central Asia… It is important that this country is interested in Georgia’s transit potential, because there is a number of production in Uzbekistan, which might be taken to European market via Georgia,” Minister Zalkaliani said, adding that using Georgian ports as well as other transport networks would therefore be a priority for Uzbekistan.

At the meeting, the Georgian FM also briefed his Uzbek counterpart on the situation in occupied Abkhazia and Tskhinvali Region/South Ossetia, and the Georgian government’s peace policy.

As part of his visit to Tashkent, Davit Zalkaliani also met with the First Vice-Speaker of the Senate of Oliy Majlis, Sodiq Safoyev. He will also meet with Deputy Prime Minister Aziz Abdukhakimov. Minister Zalkaliani will attend the events marking the 25th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Uzbekistan and Georgia as well.

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