PM urges Georgia to attract Ukrainian companies to implementation of projects for New Silk Road
Ukrainian Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has urged Georgia to attract Ukrainian companies to the implementation of projects under the New Silk Road initiative.
The press service of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine reported after a meeting of Groysman with Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikashvili that the sides discussed stepping up cooperation in the transport and transit spheres.
"The Prime Minister of Ukraine pointed out that the combination of geographical and transport opportunities of Kyiv and Tbilisi could and should become an important component of the New Silk Road international initiative," the press service reported.
Kvirikashvili said that the implementation of this project is impossible without Ukraine, which provides access to the European Union.
"He [Groysman] also invited the Georgian side to think over the possibilities of attracting Ukrainian companies to the implementation of infrastructure projects under the New Silk Road project," the press service said.
According to Groysman, Kyiv is also interested in Tbilisi's experience in the fight against corruption, the creation of the land market and large-scale privatization.
Groysman considers expedient the format of permanent expert consultations on these issues at the level of responsible ministries and departments, as well as strengthening the work of the intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation.
He also said that Georgia is in the top 20 promising markets for Ukrainian exports, and this is reflected in the indicators of mutual trade. If last year the trade turnover between the states amounted to almost $500 million, then for the first seven months of this year it exceeded $345 million.
In addition, the Ukrainian prime minister expressed his condolences in connection with the recent death of people in Batumi, and declared Ukraine's readiness to help in overcoming the consequences of the incident.
As reported, the New Silk Road is the concept of a new Pan-Eurasian transport system promoted by China to move cargo and passengers overland from China to Europe.
