2018-08-30
"Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners. Our kind neighboring and friendly relations have been exemplary throughout centuries" stated Mamuka Baktadze, Prime Minister of Georgia at a face to face meeting with Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan in Baku today. Host leader expressed his gratitude to the Georgian dignitary for his visit soon after his appointment to the position of the Prime Minister of Georgia and noted that this fact underlines the high level relations between the two countries.
"Our nations have been living in a friendly and kind neignhouring environment for over centuries. Today, relationship between these two independent states is based on a solid foundation. Georgia and Azerbaijan jointly implement significant projects. Our shared initiatives carried out in the transport sector have a great importance throughout Europe and Asia. Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkey are actively cooperating within the scope of all these projects. I believe that additional efforts need to be mobilized to increase the trade volumes. I know that Georgia has a very favorable investment climate. We are thrilled that size-wise Azerbaijan is the largest investor in Georgia. We will discuss a number of topics today and will touch upon the regional cooperation" stated President of Azerbaijan.
Strategic partnership between the two countries was accentuated by the Prime Minister of Georgia.
"We are delighted to be in Baku today. This city is becoming more alluring day after day. I have had a lot of visits to this country, when I managed the Railway of Georgia JSC and I think that it demonstrates the great economic progress in Azerbaijan very well. Georgia and Azerbaijan are strategic partners and this is a tremendous achievement. People to people relations are most important to us. Our neighboring relations and friendship has truly been exemplary throughout centuries. Our great ancestors have laid such foundation to this relationship that we are indeed very fortunate and strive to solidify and strengthen it further. Regional projects, which we implemented jointly are of international and historic importance and magnitude. We have truly great achievements in terms of regional projects in the sectors of transport, energy and many others. Nevertheless, potential is higher and I am confident that we will be absorbing it to a greater extent through a shared effort. I am thrilled that trade volumes are increasing between our countries. According to our expectations, we will hit one billion this year, however neither this is anywhere close to our full potential. I am convinced that we can increase trade volume by 50-60% in two years through a mutual cooperation. In addition, it is gratifying that our cooperation in many other areas, including arts, culture and sport, is fruitful and exemplary. We are glad that Azerbaijani tourists and investors feel themselves comfortable in Georgia. I am confident that we will achieve more goals through a shared effort" stated the Prime Minister of Georgia and thanked the President of Azerbaijan for a friendly greeting in Baku.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan hosted the Head of the Government of Georgia at Zagulba Palace.
Prime Minister's Press Office