"Georgia and Uzbekistan have good prospects for cooperation," the Georgian charge d’affaires to Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, Giorgi Chkheidze, noted during a conversation with a Biznes-Vestnik Vostoka newspaper correspondent on the occasion of the national holiday - Georgia’s Independence Day.

He was speaking about Georgian-Uzbek bilateral cooperation and about the prospects for its development as well as about his country’s achievements and his impressions of our hospitality.

-- How would you describe the current state of Georgian-Uzbek relations and prospects for bilateral cooperation?

Giorgi Chkheidze: The Georgian and Uzbek peoples have always been bonded with each other on the basis of a long-term and strong friendship, which serves as a foundation for the development of bilateral economic cooperation, and strengthening cultural and spiritual relations. There are about 80 agreements signed between Georgia and Uzbekistan, which are aimed at helping develop cooperation, including in the economy.

Georgia has always spoken in favour of stepping up economic cooperation with Uzbekistan, at the same time, understanding Uzbekistan’s great significance to the Central Asian region, which is rich in economic and cultural resources.

Unfortunately, the significant potential for cooperation between our states has not been fully realized, which is reflected in trade between our countries. However, the presence of mutual interest as well as great opportunities for deepening close economic relations is a solid foundation for resolving tasks facing us.

In our view, cooperation in the following spheres is promising: investment, transport, using the Georgian infrastructure of ports for Uzbek goods as well as joint participation in inter-regional projects on the diversification of routes of supplies, including supplies of energy resources to Western markets.