Karen Karapetyan attached great importance to development of economic relations with Georgia

ArmInfo. On June 29, Armenian Prime  Minister Karen Karapetyan received a delegation led by the Minister  of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia,  who arrived in Yerevan within the framework of the "Business Days of  Georgia in Armenia" forum. The agreement on holding the forum was  reached between the Prime Ministers of Armenia and Georgia in  February 2017 during Karen Karapetyan's official visit to Georgia,  the RA government's press service reported.

At the meeting, the Prime Minister of Armenia welcomed the holding of  a forum that would promote the development of bilateral trade and  economic ties and open new opportunities for the full utilization of  the existing potential. In particular, Karen Karapetyan attached  great importance to the development of economic and business ties on  bilateral and multilateral platforms, as well as within the framework  of free economic zones.

In his turn, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of  Georgia Georgy Gakharia noted that, the given high level of political  dialogue between Armenia and Georgia, is necessary to direct efforts  to intensify trade and economic cooperation. He presented to the  Prime Minister of Armenia the results of the discussions with the  Ministry of Economic Development and Investment of Armenia, as well  as the agreements reached on June 29.

The interlocutors exchanged views on the possibilities of  implementing joint projects in the field of tourism, strengthening  bilateral cultural ties and increasing mutual recognition among young  people.

To note, representatives of 120 companies from Armenia and 30 from  Georgia participated in the work of the Armenian-Georgian business  forum. Following the forum, a Memorandum of Understanding between  Armenia and Georgia will be signed.

According to the National Statistical Service of Armenia, the volume  of bilateral trade between Armenia and Georgia in 2016 increased by  27.7% and amounted to $ 245 million. However, in January-April this  year, the bilateral trade turnover in comparison with the same period  of the last year fell by 9.5%, being at the level of $ 68.4 million