Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan today received a delegation led by Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, who arrived in Armenia on an official visit.

Karen Karapetyan and Giorgi Kvirikashvili had a private conversation during which they expressed satisfaction with the level of friendly cooperation between Armenia and Georgia and attached importance to the development of trade and economic ties. The private meeting was followed by the meeting of the extended governmental delegations of the two countries.

Welcoming the delegation headed by the Prime Minister of Georgia, Prime Minister Karapetyan said: "I am very glad and welcome you and your delegation in Armenia. We had a private conversation with my friend, during which we recorded that our bilateral relations are at a very high level and we must state that we have progress in those relations in recent years."

Expressing gratitude for warm reception, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili said: "It is a great honor for us to be in the country, which is our long-standing friend. For our two republics, this year is jubilee and I am convinced that both our countries, both Armenia and Georgia, will celebrate the jubilee of the proclamation of their first republics. I am glad that the historical, traditional friendship between our two countries gives us the opportunity to maintain our political as well as our economic relations at the highest level. I am glad that our economic relations also have progress. Over the past year, a 33% growth in the commodity turnover has been registered. And, as my colleague mentioned, the potential is great, we can use that economic potential and I think our meeting today will contribute to that. "

Touching upon the prospects of bilateral economic cooperation, Karen Karapetyan noted that Armenia's economy is on a good development trend, which is proved by the main macroeconomic indicators of 2017. The Prime Minister informed that in 2017, Armenia's GDP grew by 7.5%, export - by 25.2%, import- by 28%, foreign trade turnover by 29%, industry growth made 12.6%, growth of services - about 15%. Highlighting the growth of commodity turnover between Armenia and Georgia last year, Prime Minister Karapetyan emphasized the need for active bilateral cooperation and regional cooperation. The head of the government noted that effective cooperation with various integration units, as well as the establishment of the Free Meghri Economic Zone on the Armenian-Iranian border, provide the privileged regimes for Armenia's business environment and it can be interesting for Georgia's business community.

Giorgi Kvirikashvili congratulated Karen Karapetyan on macroeconomic indicators and economic growth in 2017, noting that the development and progress of the neighboring and friendly country is important for Georgia.

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