Georgia and Qatar have agreed to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement. The decision was announced by Georgia’s First Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Levan Davitashvili, following his meeting with Qatar’s Minister of Commerce and Industry, Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani. Georgia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Aleksandre Khvtisiashvili also participated in the meeting.
According to the Ministry of Economy, the meeting took place during Davitashvili’s official visit to Qatar and focused on expanding bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Key areas of discussion included investment, energy, tourism, transport, and communications.
“We discussed key areas of economic collaboration and agreed on practical steps to implement existing agreements. A specific format will be created to advance these efforts. Throughout the year, we plan reciprocal visits of business delegations to further deepen trade relations. Importantly, we agreed to begin negotiations on a free trade agreement with Qatar, similar to our arrangement with the UAE. This will be a bilateral agreement, not part of a broader Gulf regional deal,” Davitashvili stated.
He added that talks could begin as early as this year during the 5th Silk Road Forum, set to take place in Tbilisi on October 22–23. The Qatari delegation has been officially invited to attend.
“This forum will serve as a valuable platform to advance economic cooperation. We hope the Qatari delegation visits Georgia to initiate concrete negotiations,” he added.
The Georgian delegation, led by Davitashvili, also participated in the Fifth Qatar Economic Forum, held under the patronage of Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani and supported by Bloomberg. The forum hosted over 2,500 global leaders, including high-ranking politicians and executives from major international corporations such as ConocoPhillips, J.P. Morgan, and others.
“The Qatar Economic Forum provides a great opportunity to present Georgia’s economy and investment potential to international investors. Our meetings with U.S., European, and Gulf representatives will help enhance Georgia’s economic attraction on the global stage,” said Davitashvili.
