Economy Minister: 'Georgia to be one of the first countries in the region to start free trade negotiations with UAE'
Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava has met investors in the United Arab Emirates. Photo: Ministry of Economy.
Tweet 
Share
Georgia will be one of the first countries in the region to start negotiations on a free trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Georgian Economy Minister Natia Turnava announced after the meeting in the Ministry of Economy of the UAE.
It is important that the talks will start without a feasibility study, because given the trade and economic trends between the countries, it is clear that free trade will be beneficial for both of them", Turnava said.
Georgia has a free trade regime with the European Union (EU), the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) countries, Turkey, China and Hong Kong.
Seven years ago on June 27, Georgia signed the Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union in Brussels, which includes the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA). EU Ambassador to Georgia Carl Hartzell congratulated Georgia on the anniversary, calling the Association Agreement ‘the anchor of our close relationship’.
Deputy Minister of Economy Genadi Arveladze has met with media representatives on DCFTA matters on February 8-9 where one of the main issues he discussed was Georgian free trade agreements.
Georgia and the United Kingdom are launching a new project that will contribute to increasing trade and export opportunities between the countries, announces the Embassy of Georgia to the United Kingdom.
Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili spoke with South Korean President Moon Jae-in earlier today to discuss cooperation between the two countries and wrote on her twitter account that Georgia and South Korea are “ready to move to more concrete steps on free trade, more tourism, and more cooperation once this pandemic is over.”
Georgia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement on starting free trade negotiation during Dubai Expo 2020 earlier today, the Georgian Economy Ministry reports.
The United Arab Emirates has decided to establish visa-free travel for Georgian citizens following talks with Georgia, the Embassy of Georgia to the country announced on Monday.
Georgian and Emirati citizens are now able to travel between the two countries without requiring a visa, with the agreement between the two states coming into force starting this week, the Georgian Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Ahmed Ali Al Sayegh, the State Minister of the United Arab Emirates for Economy and Trade, on Tuesday announced talks on a free trade agreement between the two countries following their meeting in Tbilisi.
Georgia and the United Arab Emirates on Tuesday signed a memorandum to establish a joint business council, with Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili and Ahmed bin Ali Al Sayegh, the UAE Minister of State, adding their signatures to the agreement.