The meeting was attended by Deputy Economy Minister, Genadi Arveladze, and EU Ambassador to Georgia, Carl Hartzell.

The meeting focused on the process of implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) with the European Union and the ongoing economic reforms. It was noted that Georgia has an ambitious plan to apply for EU membership in 2024.

According to Natia Turnava, the bilateral trade statistics between Georgia and the EU countries have significantly improved since the entry into force of the DCFTA. She said that by 2021, the figure had risen by 19 per cent and accounted for 21 percent of total turnover. At the same time, in 2021, compared to 2014, the number of companies exporting from Georgia to the EU increased by about 71% and amounted to 962.

The meeting positively assessed the implementation of the agreement between the EU, Georgia and Turkey on diagonal cumulation, which will enable the export of Turkish raw materials to Georgia to the EU market. Georgia has a similar agreement with Ukraine.

It was noted that Georgia is moving closer to its regulatory legislation with the EU in the field of sanitary and phytosanitary control. As a result of the implemented reforms, it became possible to export certain animal products produced in Georgia to the EU market. 

The meeting also focused on deepening sectoral cooperation with the EU in the fields of transport and logistics, energy, digitalization and other areas.

It should be noted that the Georgian side informed the visitor about the progress of the Anaklia deep-water port project. The parties stressed that at the instruction of the Government of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development prepared an updated freight forecast and business model for the Anaklia project, as well as selected a new marketing strategy and the optimal model of public-private partnership. Taking into account the results of this work, the process of selecting a new investor will begin this year in accordance with the legislation of Georgia on public-private partnership.