Deputy Foreign Minister T. Quick's speech at the Greek-Georgian Business Forum in Tbilisi

"Joint Greek-Georgian business actions can start with Greek shipping, linking Georgian ports with the Gulf and the ports of the whole world.

And we can develop our cooperation on renewable energy sources, green growth, logistics in agriculture and the food industry, telecommunications, information technology, education, training, cosmetics and construction materials. And tourism, naturally, where we expect a sharp rise in visits to Greek destinations following the recent decision on the EU visa waiver for Georgian citizens. A decision the Greek government contributed to decisively.

Annual trade transactions between the two countries were at €73 million in 2016, and of course there is substantial room for improvement.

Greece ranks 13th among suppliers of the Georgian market, and 1st among destinations for Georgian imports.

There will surely be mutual benefits from better capitalisation on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Areas (DCFTA) agreement between the EU and Georgia, which went into effect a year ago. On 1 July 2016."

These were among the points Deputy Foreign Minister Terens Quick stressed in his opening speech at the proceedings of the first Greek-Georgian Business Forum, which is taking place in Tbilisi.

Earlier this year, in March 2017, Foreign Minister Nikos Kotzias carried out an official visit to Georgia, and in his meetings with the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, and his counterpart, Foreign Minister Janelidze, it was agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in the business sector. The relevant protocol was signed ten days ago, in Athens, during the 3rd meeting of the Greek-Georgian Joint Interministerial Committee.

The Forum in Tbilisi was also addressed by Georgian Deputy Foreign Minister David Jalagania, the Vice President of the Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nato Chikovani, the Executive Vice President of the Hellenic Federation of Enterprises (SEV), Konstantinos Bitsios, and the Secretary General of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), Nikos Sofianos.

In attendance were Greece's chargé d'affaires, Nikos Piperigos, The Director of the Deputy Foreign Minister's Diplomatic Cabinet, Maya Solomou, and Greek and Georgian entrepreneurs who afterwards held B2B talks at Tbilisi's Technological Park.