·
High-level
meeting: WTO
Director-General Ngozi
Okonjo-Iweala met Mikheil Kavelashvili at the WTO headquarters on 8 July to discuss Georgia's trade and economic
outlook.
·
Focus
of discussions:
The meeting covered:
o Georgia's strong economic performance.
o Trade openness.
o Participation in the multilateral trading
system.
o Current global trade developments.
·
Economic
performance highlighted: Georgia's economy has been growing at more than 5%, demonstrating resilience despite global
economic uncertainties.
·
Trade
facilitation reforms:
The discussions acknowledged Georgia's efforts to:
o Modernize customs procedures.
o Improve transparency in trade
administration.
o Enhance the business and trade
environment.
·
Digital
economy opportunities:
Both sides exchanged views on expanding opportunities in:
o Digital trade.
o Artificial intelligence (AI).
o Technology-driven economic growth.
·
Regional
connectivity:
Georgia's strategic role as a regional transit and connectivity hub was highlighted as an important economic
advantage.
·
AI-related
trade: The
WTO Director-General noted the rapid global growth in trade of AI-related goods and encouraged Georgia to diversify its
economy further through digitally delivered services.
·
Support
for rules-based trade:
The Director-General stressed that predictable, rules-based multilateral
trade is
especially important for small and open economies like Georgia.
·
Georgia's
commitment:
President Kavelashvili reaffirmed Georgia's
commitment to:
o WTO principles.
o The multilateral trading system.
o Strengthening cooperation with the WTO.
·
Invitation
extended:
President Kavelashvili invited the WTO
Director-General to visit Georgia.
·
WTO
membership:
Georgia has been a member
of the World Trade Organization since 14 June 2000.
[ABS
News Service/09.07.2026]
WTO
Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala welcomed the President of Georgia, Mikheil
Kavelashvili, to the WTO on 8 July to discuss Georgia's economic and trade
performance, its engagement in the multilateral trading system, and current
developments in the global trading environment.
The
discussions covered Georgia's strong recent economic performance and high
degree of trade openness, as well as its efforts to modernize customs and
improve transparency in trade administration. Director-General Okonjo-Iweala and President Kavelashvili
also exchanged views on the opportunities presented by digital trade and
artificial intelligence (AI), and on Georgia's positioning as a regional
transit and connectivity hub.
The
Director-General noted the rapid growth of trade in AI-related goods and
encouraged Georgia to continue diversifying its economy, including through
digitally delivered services. She underlined the value of predictable,
rules-based trade for small, open economies.
"We
had an excellent discussion. Georgia's economy is doing very well, growing at
better than 5 per cent despite global turbulence. I hope they can keep up the
momentum," the Director-General said. "For a small, open economy like
Georgia, it is extremely important to continue supporting the multilateral
trading system and the basic rules of global trade."
President
Kavelashvili reaffirmed Georgia's commitment to the
principles of the multilateral trading system and its interest in deepening
cooperation with the WTO.
"We
have always endeavoured to act in compliance with WTO principles, and we stand
ready to build even closer relations with the World Trade Organization,"
he said, extending an invitation to the Director-General to visit Georgia.
Georgia
has been a WTO member since 14 June 2000.