(Itar-Tass) - Georgia and the European Union have begun preparing an agreement on free trade.Georgian Prime Minister Zurab Nogaideli said on Wednesday Tbilisi is beginning preparations for an agreement on free trade with the European Union.
Summing up the results of his visit to Brussels, the Georgian prime minister said, Preparations for signing the Georgian-EU agreement on free trade will be a very important event for further development of the country's economy. The EU agrees to prepare and sign this agreement.
In his words, Georgia will start talks to this effect with Turkey this month. Turkey is a candidate for joining the EU. A EU agreement is needed to begin preparations for signing such document, reports Trend.
From the 1990's Turkey ranks second after Russia among Georgia's foreign trade partners. But during these months trade turnover between Georgia and Russia decreased considerably, and trade turnover between Georgia and Turkey continues to increase. If the Georgian-EU agreement on free trade is signed, trade turnover will increase twice or thrice. Thus, Turkey may be ahead of Russia in this aspect.
By the beginning of 2006 Russia accounts for 17.9 percent of trade turnover with Georgia, for 15.2 percent with Turkey and for 9.3 percent with Azerbaijan.