TASHKENT, Uzbekistan, July 18. Uzbekistan's Prime Minister, Abdulla Aripov, and Georgia's Prime Minister, Irakli Garibashvili, signed an action plan for joint activities aimed at development of bilateral cooperation between the countries for the years 2023 and 2024, Trend reports.
Following the meeting, which took place in Tbilisi, the ministers also signed an agreement establishing a business council by the trade and industrial chambers of the countries.
In a one-on-one discussion, the prime ministers focused on Georgia's transit potential and the significance of developing the Middle Corridor (also known as Trans-Caspian International Transport Route or TITR) as an essential transport route on the international stage. Garibashvili also congratulated Shavkat Mirziyoyev on his re-election as President of Uzbekistan on behalf of Georgia's government.
Following the bilateral meeting, the delegations held extensive talks, covering various aspects of economic cooperation between the two countries. The prime ministers emphasized their stable trade partnership and identified potential for future growth in this area. They also discussed investment opportunities in different sectors.
Meanwhile, the trade turnover between Uzbekistan and Georgia reached $29.8 million in the first quarter of 2023, which is a decline of 6.1 percent compared to the same period in 2022 when it was $31.7 million.
During the reported period, Uzbekistan's imports from Georgia amounted to $17.8 million, decreasing 26 percent compared to the first quarter of 2022 ($24.1 million).
On the other hand, exports from Uzbekistan to Georgia increased 57.2 percent, reaching $11.9 million, compared to $7.5 million in the first quarter of 2022.