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Belarus, Georgia aim to achieve $200m in trade

MINSK, 23 August (BelTA) – Belarus and Georgia aim to achieve $200 million in trade. This matter was in focus of the meeting between Belarus Prime Minister Sergei Rumas and Georgia Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze on 23 August, BelTA has learned.

“The countries have great opportunities to promote trade in goods and services. We have set the goal to reach $200 million in trade in the near future. However, this will not be the maximum limit,” Sergei Rumas.

According to him, Belarus is ready to develop cooperation in industry and agriculture with Georgia. The countries have already launched pilot projects in these sectors. “The Belarusian mechanical engineering industry is well developed and we see that Belarusian companies can satisfy the demand of the Georgian agriculture for modern machines and mounted equipment. We are ready to modify Belarusian equipment for Georgian mountainous terrain,” Sergei Rumas added. Georgia may also take interest in electric transport.

“Belarus is committed to promoting cooperation with Georgia in a lot of areas, because for Belarus Georgia is not only a partner but also a brotherly nation,” the Belarusian prime minister said.

In turn, Mamuka Bakhtadze pointed out that Georgia-Belarus relations have been at a high level in recent years. “Our countries have made considerable progress in trade and economic relations. We have set ambitious goals, for example, to achieve $200 million in trade,” he said. The Georgian prime minister also noted that cultural cooperation also demonstrated positive dynamics.

In H1 2019 Belarus-Georgia trade totaled $37 million, down 5% year-on-year. Belarus' export went down 12.7% to $25.4 million, however, the trade surplus amounted to $13.8 million. Major Belarusian exports to Georgia were synthetic treads, milk and dairy products, medications, electric transformers, wires, and cables. Georgia exported mineral water, distilled spirits, grape wines, nuts, and oil products to Belarus.

As many as 17 companies with Georgian capital operate in Belarus. There are over 20 representative offices, daughter enterprises, and distributors of Belarusian companies in Georgia. Two furniture stores with Pinskdrev products, ten Belarusian grocery shops have opened in Tbilisi and Batumi. An assembly plant for Mogilevliftmash elevators opened in Tbilisi last spring. Light tractors of Bobruisk Plant of Tractor Parts and Units have been assembled in Batumi since March 2019.

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