Following the face-to-face meeting between Irakli Kobakhidze, Prime Minister of Georgia and Olzhas Bektenov, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan expanded negotiations were held at the Government House of the Republic of Kazakhstan today with the participation of members of both countries’ governments.

The discussions focused on existing cooperation in the fields of tourism and investment, as well as the importance of joint efforts to develop the Middle Corridor and attract additional cargo. The conversation also addressed the prospects of increasing the volume of Kazakh energy resource transportation through Georgia’s transport infrastructure and Black Sea ports.

Irakli Kobakhidze thanked his Kazakh counterpart for hosting the Georgian delegation and emphasized the traditionally close and friendly partnership between the two countries: “The volume of bilateral trade is demonstrating a growth trend. We are ready to facilitate the export of Georgian agricultural and food products to Kazakhstan and to encourage investments in the agri-food sector. Kazakhstan is one of Georgia’s strategic and rapidly growing tourist markets. Accordingly, we express our readiness to continue cooperation with the Kazakh side in the field of tourism. We offer an excellent investment climate, some of the lowest tax rates, and access to key international markets. Georgia is keen to further develop cooperation in attracting investments and warmly welcomes Kazakh investors.

Thanks to the close cooperation between the railways of Georgia, Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan, the Middle Corridor project has been successfully implemented. As a result, rail-container transportation is being carried out along this route from China to Europe and vice versa. It is essential to intensify efforts to support the development of the Middle Corridor and attract additional cargo. Georgia has the potential to serve as a key connecting link between Europe, the Middle East and South Asia, as well as between Central and East Asia. International connectivity routes enable us to become a digital hub between Europe and Asia Georgia welcomes the prospects for increasing the transportation of Kazakh energy resources, particularly oil and petroleum products, through Georgia’s transport infrastructure and Black Sea ports”, - said Irakli Kobakhidze.