Turkey, Georgia to Work on Simplified Customs Line

Turkey and Georgia have agreed to work on a simplified customs line which could pave the way for ending delays in transportation.

Turkish Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan and Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Natia Turnava gathered for the final sitting of a joint economic committee held in the capital Ankara on Nov. 19.

“I offered to the minister to work on a simplified customs line cooperation, and she agreed,” Pekcan said.

She added: “Our goal is to prevent loss of time and money due to delays in shipping between our two countries.”

For her part, Turnava said the meeting was held after a 14-year break.

Underlining that Turkey was one of Georgia’s biggest trade partners, she noted that Tbilisi was ready to implement all kinds of assistance and incentives for Turkish investors.

Bilateral trade volume stood at $3.45 billion with Turkey exporting $2.06 billion worth of goods to Georgia and its imports from this country amounting to $1.4 billion in 2011.

The trade volume climbed to $4.7 billion in 2013 and further up to $5.1 billion in 2014.