“Georgia and Turkiye today are not only neighbours but partners who actively collaborate for regional development, stability, and economic progress. Turkiye is one of Georgia’s most important trading partners – in 2024, bilateral trade turnover exceeded three billion US dollars, which clearly demonstrates the close integration of our economies,” Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Mariam Kvrivishvili, stated, speaking at the opening of the Georgia-Turkiye Business Forum.

The forum, co-opened by Kvrivishvili and Turkiye’s Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat in Tbilisi, drew significant participation from both countries’ business communities. Nearly 80 Turkiye companies and over 160 Georgian companies were represented at the event.

“This clearly indicates how high the interest is from both countries’ business sectors to establish strong and results-oriented connections,” Kvrivishvili assessed.

The minister presented the country’s recent economic achievements to Turkiye’s government delegation and business sector representatives, emphasising the role and importance of cooperation with Turkiye.

According to Kvrivishvili, Georgia achieved stronger-than-expected economic growth in 2024, reaching 9.4 per cent. Remarkably, Georgia ranks third globally in terms of economic growth rate. The minister noted that the momentum has carried into 2025, with preliminary data from January to May indicating an average economic growth of 8.8 per cent.

“The Georgian government pays significant attention to private sector development, improving transport and renewable energy capabilities, maintaining a predictable business environment, and facilitating the attraction of foreign direct investment. It should be noted that over the past five years, Turkiye has regularly increased its investments in Georgia, and in general, our countries have very close relations in the trade-economic direction,” Kvrivishvili stated.

The minister informed forum participants about ongoing strategic projects in Georgia, including the development of the East-West highway, the Anaklia Deep Sea Port, Tbilisi’s new international airport, and the Black Sea underwater electricity transmission cable. She also noted that the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project is in its completion phase.

Kvrivishvili emphasised that the countries collaborate closely in transport and logistics, which takes on particular significance in the context of developing the Middle Corridor as a strategic transport route.

“The active participation of Turkiye companies in Georgia’s economy is particularly important for us,” she said. “Currently, more than 2,700 companies created with Turkiye capital operate in Georgia across various sectors.”

The minister highlighted the special role of Turkiye companies in Georgia’s energy sector investments, noting that their volume has exceeded USD 150 million over the past five years alone.

“This once again points to our country’s attractiveness in this direction,” Kvrivishvili emphasised.

Within the framework of the Turkiye delegation’s visit, the parties signed a joint committee decision that envisions introducing changes to the free trade agreement by replacing origin rules with newly edited PEM rules (Regional Convention on Pan-European-Mediterranean Preferential Rules of Origin).