Opinions & Interviews

TBILISI, 1 September (BelTA) – There is a good foundation for Belarus-Georgia cooperation, Georgia Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said when speaking at a ceremony to open Belarus’ national expo in Georgia, BelTA has learned.

“We have a very good foundation for cooperation which is reinforced by close ties and friendship between our peoples,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.

He welcomed the members of the Belarusian delegation, businessmen who came to the expo and brought their products. “I cannot recall any other event of this scale and can only welcome this,” the Georgian Prime Minister noted.

According to him, the idea of holding such an expo belongs to Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko. The idea was voiced during an official visit of the Belarusian leader to Georgia in 2015. “The expo brings our people closer, gives impetus to new ideas from our business communities,” the Prime Minister said. He also welcomed the meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation to be held on 1 September.

“We have recorded growth in many areas such as tourism, trade. We have set ourselves the task to raise the trade up to $200 million by the end of 2017, and we will achieve this goal,” Giorgi Kvirikashvili said.

Belarus’ national expo in Georgia opened in Tbilisi on 1 September and will run till 4 September. The expo features products of more than 140 Belarusian companies.