ArmInfo.The holding in Yerevan of the 11th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation between Armenia and Georgia at the highest level testifies to the mutual readiness to strengthen and develop especially friendly relations between the two countries.
The coronavirus pandemic that broke out in 2020 had a negative impact on the global economy, not to mention the Armenia-Georgia trade and economic relations."But thanks to the anti-epidemic strategy of our countries and the implemented measures in 2021, we recorded an increase in bilateral trade by more than 40% - this undoubtedly inspires optimism, confirming the justification of the principles adopted and consonance with countering challenges," Deputy Prime Minister of Armenia Hambardzum Matevosyan said yesterday in his speech, At the 11th sitting of the Armenian-Georgian intergovernmental commission
Stressing that there is mutual understanding in the issues of expanding and deepening economic relations Armenia-Georgia, identifying unrealized potential, more efficient use of opportunities, he drew attention to such aspects as promoting mutual investments, strengthening business ties, creating more favorable conditions for business, interagency cooperation, development of joint economic programs.
"We attach great importance to the development of transport and communication routes between the two countries, where we have successful results, given the resumption of regular flights between Armenia and Georgia from March 2021, the resumption of passenger traffic by rail from June 2020, an increase in the volume of cargo transportation by land transport. We also attach importance to strengthening and developing regional cooperation. There is a mutual interest in this issue to ensure the necessary participation in international transport and communication programs, such as the participation of Armenia and Georgia in the projects of the North-South and Persian Gulf-Black Sea international transport corridor," he said.
The issue of cooperation in the energy sector in the context of economic component and security was also discussed during the meeting. "The development of cooperation between Armenia and Georgia in the areas of digitalization, telecommunications, high technologies and cybersecurity is becoming an imperative. Bilateral interagency cooperation and the discussions held within the framework of this meeting, I am sure, will lead to mutually beneficial results," H. Matevosyan said.
In his opinion, the coronavirus pandemic has once again proved that it can only be defeated by mutual efforts and support. "We were guided by this awareness when working with all international partners, including Georgia. In the context of our readiness to continue work, the agenda of the meeting included such issues as deepening bilateral cooperation in the health sector, including the development and modernization of joint mechanisms and instruments aimed to overcome the epidemic," he added. At the same time, he singled out tourism and agriculture as one of the promising areas of the economies of the two countries. The current programs and promising initiatives to give new impetus to the cooperation in these areas were discussed with the Georgian partners. On the agenda of the intergovernmental commission no less important are issues related to environmental protection, labor market, social sphere, sports and youth.
At the present time, a competitive, developing market economy should rely on scientific, educational and cultural potential. From this point of view, as he noted, it is necessary to exchange best practices in these areas, develop institutional cooperation and continue regular professional contacts. He assured that the existing international treaties, agreements, memorandums-protocols, covering practically all sectors of relations between Armenia and Georgia, are regularly expanded and updated in parallel with the development of bilateral relations. And he believes, that the agreements reached within the framework of the intergovernmental commissionwill enrich the agenda of the Armenian-Georgian multifaceted cooperation with new content and vision.
According to the Statistical Committee of the Republic of Armenia, the foreign trade turnover between Armenia and Georgia in January-October 2021 amounted to $ 150.7 million, with a y-o-y growth rate of 42.3% (out of a 14.3% decline in the same period of 2020). In particular, the volume of exports of Armenian goods and services to Georgia amounted to $ 54.5 million with a y-o-y growth of 16.5%, and the volume of imports of goods from Georgia to Armenia exceeded $ 96.2 million with an increase of 62.7% per annum, while a year earlier in the same period, both indicators were in decline by 18.9% and 10.2%, respectively.
