On 28 January, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem, saying that Tbilisi strives to build a favorable ground for full expansion of bilateral trade relations worldwide and therefore we attach special importance to the discussions toward a free trade agreement between the State of Israel and Georgia.
Garibashvili told reporters that Israel is very important country for Georgia. “We pay special attention to co-operation with Israel in whole range of areas – economy, culture, security,” he said.
“I had a very important and fruitful meeting with the Israeli Prime Minister and the Israeli President [Shimon Peres]. We exchanged interesting ideas about how to further deeper our relations and first of all it concern economy as there is a huge potential,” the Georgian premier said, adding that he also had a meeting with a group of Israeli business people, who, he said, would visit Georgia in March to look into investment opportunities. “Prime Minister Netanyahu assured me of his full readiness and support to personally recommend [Israeli] investors to visit and invest in Georgia,” he said.
The Israeli president expressed satisfaction with the start of the Georgian-Israeli intergovernmental commission’s work which will contribute to the strengthening of relations between Georgia and Israel.
Garibashvili also said that the newly launched joint economic commission should pave the way for signing of free trade agreement between two countries.
Netanyahu told reporters before the meeting that there is “a natural sympathy with Georgia that seeks to establish a prosperous and secure future for its people. We think we can do that together”.
“We have every area to co-operate in, technology and water, agriculture, education, everything. And we are open to further this co-operation in all fields. We’ve been doing that; we’ll continue to do that. I’m sure your visit enhances that. That is part of our quest to achieve security, prosperity and peace,” the Israeli premier said.
Meanwhile in Tbilisi, Defense Minister Irakli Alasania told journalists on 28 January that “great opportunities have opened up” for military co-operation between Georgia and Israel.
“I visited Israel last month and an agreement was reached to set up a group that will start developing our military co-operation in all directions,” Alasania said.
A memorandum of understanding on launching Georgian-Israeli joint economic commission was signed by Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman and his Georgian counterpart Maia Panjikidze on 28 January.
In November, 2013 Georgia and Israel signed visa-free agreement, which has yet to go into force.