MINSK, 19 February (BelTA) – Georgia has invited Belarus to invest in grape production, Georgia's Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava said at a session of the Belarus-Georgia intergovernmental commission for economic cooperation on 19 February, BelTA has learned.
“We would like to ask Belarus for support and assistance in a range of projects. I believe that our joint efforts we help us bring a lot of ideas to life, for example, the project on possible participation of Belarusian companies in joint ventures to grow various grape varieties in Georgia in order to produce wine for the Belarusian market and third countries,” Natia Turnava said.
According to her, Georgia views Belarus as a very important and reliable partner and is eager to further intensify bilateral political, economic, cultural and humanitarian relations.
In turn, Belarus Deputy Prime Minister Vladimir Dvornik spoke in favor of exploring new forms of cooperation and launching joint projects. “Belarusian enterprises are interested in participating in Georgia's infrastructure development and upgrading its transport fleet. We have something to offer, and its is not only products of the Belarusian automobile engineering company MAZ and tractor manufacturer MTZ. Belarus is introducing innovative eco-friendly transport – electric buses. The Belarusian electric transport manufacturer Belkommunmash won the tender to supply eight electric buses and a charging station to Batumi,” Vladimir Dvornik noted.
Belarus is also ready to export metro cars for Tbilisi metro. Earlier it supplied Stadler products. “We see promise in launching supplies of Belarusian utilities, agricultural, road-building, and fire vehicles and offer the option to use financial tools to purchase it,” Vladimir Dvornik added. In 2018 Belarus' Gomselmash shipped a batch of 30 harvesters to Georgia, and the company hopes to continue cooperating in this area.
Moreover, industrial and agricultural cooperation also holds promise. “We have already laid the groundwork. In 2018 a plant to assemble elevators opened in Tbilisi, Georgian pharmaceutical companies pack Belarusian medicines. We are ready to share best practices in animal husbandry and food industry. Plans are in place to set up a dairy factory with Belarusian investment in Georgia in the near future,” Vladimir Dvornik said.
Photos by Oksana Manchuk
