The meeting was also attended by Deputy Ministers of Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze and Guram Guramishvili, as well as the Ambassador of Georgia to Azerbaijan Zurab Pataradze.

Bilateral trade and economic issues and priority areas of cooperation were discussed at the meeting. It was noted that Georgia and Turkey are fruitfully cooperating in such sectors as trade, energy, transport, communications, tourism, etc.

It was noted that Turkey is Georgia's first among trade partner countries - in the first 10 months of 2021, bilateral trade increased by 30 percent, while exports to Turkey increased by 66 percent. In addition, the growth of exports of agricultural products amounted to 24 percent, while of industrial production - 84 percent.

It was also agreed at the meeting that the next round of negotiations on further liberalization of tariffs and trade in services within the framework of the Free Trade Committee meeting will be held on December 23 in Tbilisi. The activation of the so-called diagonal cumulation scheme among Georgia, Turkey and the European Union was emphasized. It will allow the export of products made in Georgia with Turkish raw materials to the EU market through a free trade regime. It was noted that the introduction of the "diagonal cumulation" is especially important for the development of industries in Georgia, such as the further development of textiles, furniture, building materials, plastics and other products, and in this regard to attract new foreign investment. It was said that the launch of this scheme will increase the range of products that can be exported to the EU, as well as encourage investment from Turkey in the Georgian economy, helping to establish joint companies and create new jobs.

Natia Turnava also focused on cooperation in the field of investments. According to her, more than $ 1.7 billion was invested from Turkey in 2005-2020. According to the preliminary data of the three quarters of 2021, the volume of investments from Turkey will reach USD 75.55 million, which is 107% higher than the same period last year. 

Talks were held on cooperation in the tourism sector. It was stated that in 2015-2020, more than 5.6 million visitors came to Georgia from Turkey. As of 2021, 261,289 visitors came within 10 months.

At the meeting, the Ministers also talked about cooperation in land and sea transport, as well as in the field of freight transport, "- the statement reads.