Ukraine is interested in developing trade relations with Georgia, and goods turnover between the two countries would increase from $526 million to $1 billion, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko said at the Ukrainian-Georgian business forum, the press service of the head of state has reported.

"Some $526 million in 2016. We believe that this does not reflect the potential Ukraine and Georgia have. We set a goal to bring goods turnover between our countries to $1 billion in several years," Poroshenko said.

He said that in the first quarter of 2017 growth of 16.5% was recorded.

"Figures are encouraging," he said.

The head of state said that the intensification of contacts at the high level was discussed at meetings in Tbilisi on Tuesday. This autumn a Georgian governmental delegation headed by the Georgian prime minister is to visit Ukraine.

"Ukraine is a reliable trade partner of Georgia. Traditionally Ukrainian agricultural goods find their consumers all over the world, and Georgia is an important market for us," Poroshenko said.

He said that 21% of agricultural imports in Georgia are of Ukrainian origin.

The Ukrainian president called on creating new forms of relations between the two countries on the basis of international specialization and production cooperation, including joint production.

"This also contributes to the appropriateness of boosting mutual direct investment in Ukraine and Georgia," he said, adding that the countries' authorities and business representatives are working on the issue.

According to the report, now there are more than 50 companies with Ukrainian capital in Georgia. The accumulated amount of Ukrainian investment in the Georgian economy, as of late first quarter, is $42 million. The volume of Georgian investment in Ukraine is lower - $4.6 million.

"Friends, I want to invite you to Ukraine, I'm here to convince you that the reforms that the Ukrainian government, the president, the government and the parliament are carrying out, are irreversible," the head of the Ukrainian state said.

In turn, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who also participated in the forum, said that Georgia is ready to deepen relations.

"Despite the fact that Ukraine and Georgia are facing great challenges due to the occupation by Russia, the continuation of the reforms remains our priority," he said.

The prime minister said that Ukraine is an important trading partner for Georgia and it is one of the five countries with which Georgia has the largest commodity turnover. He also invited Ukrainian businessmen to invest in Georgia.