Georgia’s Kvirikashvili & Iranian Officials Discuss Deeper Ties
Georgian-Iranian bilateral relations and economic cooperation were the main topics discussed during Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili’s visit to Iran on April 22-23.
The first Iranian official to welcome the PM was First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri. During the meeting, Jahangiri highlighted the two countries' economic cooperation and spoke about the vast untapped potential of this relationship. Special emphasis was placed on the positive trade and economic dynamics between the two countries.
The two officials also discussed prospects of stronger ties in transport and energy, agriculture, infrastructure, and manufacturing cooperation, and the countries' interaction in the fields of innovation and high technology.
Following the meeting, negotiations between the two countries continued in a broader format. The key topics discussed were the development of transport and transit corridors, including the Persian Gulf-Black Sea corridor, and cooperation in the fields of energy, agriculture, and banking.
The Iranian delegation expressed readiness to cooperate with Georgia in the energy sector, including electric power exchange and the provision of Iranian natural gas.
Special attention was paid to the importance of developing economic ties. The sides agreed to hold the next meeting of the Georgia-Iran Intergovernmental Economic Commission in Georgia this summer.
Memoranda of understanding were signed between the ministries of Sport and Youth Affairs, Agriculture, and Environment Protection of Georgia and Iran, as were agreements between the Ministry of Information and Communications Technology of Iran and Georgia's Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. On behalf of Georgia, the documents were signed by Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Gakharia, and Minister of Environment and Natural Resources Protection Gigla Agulashvili. In addition, several agreements were signed between private sector representatives of Georgia and Iran.
“Iran has always supported Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and we are very grateful for this to the government and people of Iran,” Georgia’s Kvirikashvili stated at a joint press conference.
The PM went on to note that Georgia is able to offer Iranian investors a distinguished business environment and the possibility of free trade with Europe and the European Union.
“We are very glad that the number of Iranian tourists in Georgia is increasing and we have also made a decision to boost cooperation between tourism agencies to encourage more Georgian tourists to visit Iran,” Kvirikashvili said.
Jahangiri expressed hope that following the Georgian PM’s visit to Iran, a new era of deeper cooperation would begin between the two states.
The Speaker of the Iranian Majlis Consultative Assembly, Ali Larijani, also welcomed Kvirikashvili, noting that very important reforms are underway in Georgia, and that good conditions are in place for investment.
Positive dynamics in the mutual relationship between Iran and Georgia and cooperation in the economic sector were the main topics of a meeting between Kvirikashvili and the President of Iran, Hassan Rouhani. “On the 25th anniversary of diplomatic cooperation between our countries, it is time to advance our mutual relationship to a new level,” Kvirikashvili said.
Thea Morrison