OREANDA-NEWS. June 17, 2013. Prime Minister Valdis Dombrovskis, during the meeting with the new Ambassador of Georgia Teimuraz Janjalia emphasized that Latvia will continue to support Georgia’s European integration. He also appreciated the active bilateral dialogue, and mentioned that there is still unused potential for economic cooperation.

Discussing the cooperation between Georgia and the European Union, the Prime Minister said that Latvia highly appreciates and supports Georgia’s achievements in the process of Euro-Atlantic integration. The parties also emphasized that the Eastern Partnership summit to be held this autumn in Vilnius will be significant for the EU-Georgia relations. The Eastern Partnership is the foreign policy priority of both Latvia and Georgia. Latvia supports initializing of the EU – Georgia Association Agreement in the Vilnius Summit.

The parties were of the same opinion that the countries need to work on intensification of economic relations and organization of the business forum would make a positive contribution. The Ambassador said that Georgia is particularly interested in strengthening the cooperation in the field of agriculture; therefore, the visit of the officials representing this area to Latvia is planned.

The Prime Minister said that the Latvian side will be gratified for the opportunity to host Bidzina Ivanishvili, Prime Minister of Georgia during his visit to Latvia to be held within the framework of the Riga Conference 2013.

Indicators of trade between Latvia and Georgia:

With the total trade turnover of EUR 16.17 million, Georgia ranks the 54th among the foreign trade partners of Latvia. Compared with the year 2011, the total trade turnover between Latvia and Georgia has increased by 11.6%. In 2012, the main export goods to Georgia were chemical and allied products (38.65%), machinery and mechanical appliances, electrical equipment (19.24%), food products (17.81%), motor vehicles (5, 53%), while foodstuffs (66,47%) and vegetable products (32.99%) dominate in imports. The service trade turnover with Georgia reaches EUR 6.89 million. The major export services of Latvia to Georgia were trips, air transport, and road transport.