The Press Office of the Georgian government reported that on July 27, Irakli Garibashvili visited Kazakhstan. The Prime Minister was greeted with a ceremony at Nursultan Nazarbayev International Airport in Nur-Sultan. Bakhyt Sultanov, the Republic of Kazakhstan's Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Integration, and Giorgi Chkheidze, Georgia's charge d'affaires to the Republic of Kazakhstan, greeted the head of government.
Meeting with the Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
On the same day, Garibashvili met with Älihan Smaiylov, Prime Minister of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During their face-to-face meeting, the two prime ministers discussed the bilateral relationship and opportunities for future collaboration. According to Irakli Garibashvili, Kazakhstan and Georgia have enjoyed friendly ties for years. "The primary purpose of this communication is to reaffirm our eagerness to maintain our very fruitful relationship and cooperation over the next years. Throughout history, we have maintained very solid connections and partnerships. Thisyear marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic ties; thus, my primary message is to deepen our bilateral connection, friendship, and collaboration," Irakli Garibashvili remarked.
"Our relationship is based on the principles of cooperation and partnership, a fruitful partnership. Our government is ready to enhance the cooperation between our countries, and I would like to wish us a successful continuation of this partnership," Älihan Smaiylov said. Moreover, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili and Älihan Smaiylov held an enhanced-format meeting to discuss the relations between the two countries. The conversation focused on the key direction of ongoing cooperation in the areas of tourism, energy, transport, and trade, with emphasis on the importance of the full-fledged operation of the Middle Corridor. The parties expressed their commitment to deepening and enhancing the current cooperation even further. The meeting also pointed out the need to use every opportunity to increase the trade turnover between the two countries. The conversation also touched on the work of the Georgia-Kazakhstan Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the parties signed the Memorandum of Cooperation between the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the Ministry of Digital Development, Innovations, and Aerospace Industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan; the Memorandum of Mutual Cooperation between the Railways of Georgia and the Republic of Kazakhstan; and the 2023-2026 Roadmap for Enhancing the Trade Turnover Nomenclature between Georgia and the Republic of Kazakhstan.
Meeting with the President of Kazakhstan
In addition, the Prime Minister of Georgia met with Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev. During the meeting, the PM of Georgia highlighted: "I came here with one concrete message: that we wish to strengthen our bilateral ties and cooperation in every field. Trade volumes are increasing. Last year the increase reached 42 percent. This year, in the first six months we already have about a 150 percent increase in our trade."
Kassym-Jomart Tokayev noted at the meeting that both states and countries share tight bonds of mutual friendship. "You have a number of meetings that will be able to give an additional impetus to the development of mutual relationships and cooperation between both Kazakhstan and Georgia. Also, I would like to say that we share tight bonds of mutual friendship between both states and countries. Our task is to make sure that this friendship and cooperation will have a follow-up and will be continuously developing. So, once again, I would like to welcome you," stated the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
