Mutually beneficial development of the potential of Ukraine and Georgia as well as the joint implementation of projects in various sectors, primarily of transport infrastructure and transit capacities, are considered necessary to enhance cooperation between the two countries, to boost mutual trade turnover and to offer new trade routes to the world. Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman stated during a meeting with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili. The meeting of the Heads of Government was the first on the program of an official visit of Volodymyr Groysman to Georgia.

The talks began with paying a tribute to the dead in the recent tragedy in Batumi. Volodymyr Groysman expressed his condolences and readiness of Ukraine to help overcome the consequences of the accident. Giorgi Kvirikashvili thanked for the words of support and noted that Ukraine has always been and still remains a true friend of Georgia. That is what forms the cooperation agenda between the two countries, which extends in its scale year after year.

"We must intensify partnership in a number of domains," stressed Volodymyr Groysman.

"We attach great importance to our interaction, and we have a solid basis for our mutual relations. Hence, by joining endeavors we can yield a substantive result," accentuated Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Thus, among the most promising areas for cooperation is building the transit capabilities of the States. The Prime Minister of Ukraine was quoted as saying that combination of geographical and transport potential of Kyiv and Tbilisi could and should become a major component of the New Silk Road international initiative.

The Head of Government of Georgia agreed to this and added, "The New Silk route is impossible without Ukraine. You have transport communication with the European Union, we have communication with China, in which a duty-free regime is in effect".

In this regard, Volodymyr Groysman reminded that in September this year a Memorandum on cooperation between PJSC Ukrzaliznytsia, JSC Georgian Railways and JSC Azerbaijan Railways had been signed in Odessa, which would promote the development of railway routes through the Caucasus towards Ukraine and the European Union and in the reverse direction.

"We have preliminary agreements on the formation of joint transport structures, a tariff policy. It is crucial to accelerate this process. I believe that our negotiations will give an additional impetus to this process," highlighted Volodymyr Groysman.

The Prime Minister offered the Georgian side to consider the possibility of involving Ukrainian companies in the implementation of infrastructure projects within the framework of the New Silk Road project.

The parties placed a special emphasis on the issue pertaining to bilateral cooperation, both at the level of implementation of joint business projects and in the exchange of reforms experience. According to Volodymyr Groysman, Kyiv favors applying of Tbilisi's experience in the fight against corruption, the formation of a land market, and large privatization. He praised the format of permanent expert consultations on specified issues at the level of line ministries and departments, as well as the strengthening of the work of the Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation.

He emphasized Georgia is among the top 20 promising markets for Ukrainian exports, which is reflected in the indicators of mutual trade. If last year the trade turnover between the states amounted to almost $ 500 million, then as compared to the period of 7 months of the current year it exceeded $ 345 million.

"At present, we set the task to bring the trade turnover to 1 billion dollars. Agriculture, tourism, energy are among the fruitful areas of cooperation", underscored the Head of Ukrainian Government.

"The issues of economic cooperation are of high priority. Our team is ready for concrete decisions, which will allow to deepen relations", added Volodymyr Groysman.

Background

Ukraine ranks 5th place among Georgia's trading partners. The volume of Ukrainian exports to Georgia for 9 months of the current year amounted to $ 296.8 million (growth - 9.4%). The key export articles include tobacco and industrial tobacco substitutes, ferrous metals, meat, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food products, sugar and sugar confectionery. Over a period of 9 months of this year the volume of Georgian imports to Ukraine amounted to 49 million dollars. The main import articles are alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages and fertilizers.

Another important areas of cooperation include the fuel and energy sector, including the development of the Euro-Asian Oil Transport Corridor Project (EAOTC), agro-sector, transport, primarily in the freight shipping segment, health care, tourism, and development of small and medium-sized enterprises.

Within the framework of the visit, the Governments of Ukraine and Georgia have signed Memorandums on mutual understanding in the field of development of land cadaster systems and in the field of the medicines flow.