2016-07-01
Exactly 2 years after signing the DCFTA with the EU, Georgia has concluded the Free Trade Agreement (the FTA) with European Free Trade Association (EFTA) that encompasses Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Iceland.
The document was signed today in Bern within the frames of the Prime Minister's visit to the Swiss Confederation and the EFTA Ministerial by the first Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsishvili as well as Federal President of the Swiss Confederation, the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann Schneider-Ammann and Ministers of the EFTA member-states.
The Prime Minister of Georgia attended the ceremony. Giorgi Kvirikashvili considered termination of the negotiations and signing of the FTA as a historic event.
"This happened exactly two years after signing an Agreement on the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area with the EU. I would like to note that we still believe in the EU and are enthusiastic about its future.
"Georgia and the EFTA countries share a common understanding of the value and importance of free trade. It is the very principle upon which the EFTA was created. With the conviction that free trade is a means of achieving growth and prosperity, EFTA has since the 1960s been a standard bearer for international exchange", -Prime Minister indicated.
Federal President of the Swiss Confederation, Head of the Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research Johann Schneider-Ammann met him at the Bern international airport. The meeting of Prime Minister of Georgia and Federal President of the Swiss Confederation as well as Swiss-Georgian business forum was held. Around 60 businesspersons attended the meeting.
Group of experts from the Ministry of Economy of Swiss Confederation met the Georgian delegation to share their experience on developing Swiss mountainous resorts.
On September 5-6, 2016, President of the National Council of Swiss parliament Christa Markwalder will pay an official visit to Georgia, as was pointed out at a meeting between the Georgian prime Minister and the President of the National Council of Swiss parliament. Christa Markwalder hosted Giorgi Kvirikashvili and the Georgian delegation at a working dinner.
Within the frames of the high ranking meetings throughout the visit, issues including tourism, entrepreneurship, preservation of cultural heritage and security were discussed.
Delegation of Georgia headed by the Prime Minister encompassed Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitry Kumsishvili, deputy Foreign Minister Gigi Gigiadze, deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Genadi Arveladze, deputy head of Administration of the Government Nino Kobakhidze and head of the National Investment Agency Giorgi Pertaia.
Prime Minister's Press Office