Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili says negotiations for a free trade agreement between Israel and Georgia are scheduled to commence in 2024.
By Ben Rappaport, United with Israel
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday met with Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili at the Kirya in Tel Aviv.
The two leaders first met privately, then held an expanded meeting.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the two discussed strengthening cooperation in economic matters, tourism, medicine, security and artificial intelligence.
“Prime Minister, it’s a delight to welcome you,” Netanyahu told his Georgian counterpart. “Georgia and Israel have had very warm relations. Our connections go back 2,500 years, perhaps even 2,600 years, to the Jewish community in Georgia. We have many, many Jews who came from Georgia as a living bridge. I myself had the opportunity to visit Georgia.”
“I know that we can bring our relations to even greater heights, and I welcome this opportunity to do this on your visit.”
Also attending the meeting from the Israeli side were the Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, the Director of the National Security Council, the Prime Minister’s Foreign Policy Adviser and the Israeli Ambassador to Georgia.
Attending from the Georgian side were the Foreign Minister, the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Georgian Ambassador to Israel.
Georgian Prime Minister Garibashvili invited Prime Minister Netanyahu to pay a reciprocal visit to Georgia; the latter responded positively.
In remarks quoted on Friday by Georgian English-language daily The Messenger, the Georgian Prime Minister placed “substantial significance” on his visit to Israel.
“During the meeting, a broad spectrum of cooperation avenues was discussed, focusing on the sectors that merit further development and reinforcement in both countries,” he said, adding, “It’s worth underscoring the explicit emphasis placed on strengthening and deepening trade and economic ties between our nations.”
“Notably, negotiations for a free trade agreement between the two countries are scheduled to commence in 2024, which will bolster cooperation in this domain.”
“Overall, I’d like to stress that the visit held substantial significance and occurred at an opportune moment. We are confident that the Prime Minister of Georgia’s visit will amplify and enrich the already productive collaboration, a testament to its value for both the Jewish and Georgian communities,” Darchiashvili concluded.
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