WT/MIN(22)/ST/88  
12 June 2022 
(22-4525) Page: 1/3 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT B Y H.E.  MR. GENADI ARVELADZE  
DEPUTY MINISTER OF ECONOMY AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT  
GEORGIA  
I am deeply honored to address the twelfth session of WTO 's Ministerial Conference.  
 
On behalf of the Government of Georgia, I would like to congratulate the WTO secretariat with the 
successful organization of this conference and extend special thanks to the Government of the Swiss 
Confederation and the Government of Kazakhstan for hosting this important event.  
 
It has been more t han two years, since the world and the multilateral trading system have been 
confronted with severe challenges triggered by the Covid pandemic. It has had major effects on 
countries globally experiencing high levels of uncertainty and low levels of growth,  which impacted 
global GDP and trade.  
 
Prior to the pandemic, Georgian economy was characterized with robust growth, averaging 4.9 % 
between 2017 and 2019. Georgia was hard hit by the COVID -19 pandemic, however has managed 
to effectively respond to the pan demic related challenges by taking decisive actions to ensure access 
to Covid -19 vaccines available to all citizens and substantial support to vulnerable households and 
businesses.  
 
The support measures and efficient response to the shock created strong ec onomic fundamentals 
for post Covid recovery.  After the economic contraction – by 6.8 % in 2020, Georgia 's economic 
recovery has gained surprising momentum, in 2021 economic growth amounted to 10.4 %.  
 
The growing global uncertainty in the wake of the Russia  – Ukraine war is a significant challenge for 
the global economy, including Georgian economy, since Ukraine and Russia are important trade 
partners and sources of foreign exchange inflows. Beyond the immediate humanitarian impacts, the 
war is slowing globa l recovery prospects and increasing inflation pressures even further.   
 
Despite challenging environment, the promising trends continued in Georgian economy in 2022. 
Based on the preliminary estimates economic growth in January -April 2022 was around 10.8%. 
Based on already observed promising tendencies, we expect that economic growth of Georgia in 
2022 will overperform the IFI -s projections, amounting to 6%.  
 
Georgia 's resilience and consecutive response to the  previous shocks, implemented policy effo rts 
and strong fiscal discipline proved the Government 's commitment to continue implementation of 
structural reforms and policies supporting macroeconomic stability.  
 
Georgia underscores the relevance and critical role of international trade and the WTO in  global 
economic recovery. Trade policy related actions set out in various declarations and decisions are 
designed to contribute to the WTO response to the current COVID -19 pandemic and to enhance 
resilience against future pandemics.  
 
Georgia is a respons ible member of the WTO committed with its values and principles. We are 
targeted in achieving maximum openness, transparency, regional and global integration of our 
economy. By continuing to implement economic reforms, Georgia remains the country pursuing one 
of the most liberal trade regimes and economic policies in the world, posing as a sustainable and 
reliable partner for the other countries globally as well as across the region.  WT/MIN( 22)/ST/ 88 
 
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  With the full implementation of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, Georgia is distinguished with its 
liberal foreign trade regimes, facilitated customs procedures, low import tariffs and minimum 
non-tariff regulations. With the liberal trade and economic policy incentives, Georgia continues to 
pursue the strategy of enhancing its  role as a regional trade and transit hub.   
 
We attach great significance to the development of IT sector reflected by Georgia 's joining to the 
expanded Information Technology Agreement which we consider as one of the major steps forward 
for attracting inv estments in this sector.   
 
While WTO provides an opportunity for global integration, Georgia continues its aspiration in forming 
preferential trade arrangements with markets inside and outside the region. Georgia enjoys multiple 
free trade agreements cover ing markets of over 2 billion consumers providing increased market 
access opportunities for Georgian private sector.   
 
In January this year, we have had Georgia 's third trade policy review where members had an 
opportunity to review the implemented and plan ned trade policy reforms. We have overall received 
over 200 questions from the members highlighting the great interest of the entire membership 
towards Georgia 's new economic approaches and reforms for which I would like to show my deep 
appreciation. I als o wish to use this opportunity and once again express my sincere appreciation to 
the experts from the WTO for their outstanding work in this process.  
 
Georgia 's economic policy continues to focus on its long -run reform agenda,  structural improvement 
of the economy and on tapping into new opportunities for the country 's subsequent development, 
especially in terms of attracting foreign investments as well as supporting the development of SMEs 
and introduce the best international practices.  
 
To this end, Georgia joined the statement on Investment Facilitation for Development and will 
become an active participant in the structured discussions which aims to develop multilateral 
disciplines that will improve the investment and business climate.   
 
Georgia has also joined the declaration on MSMEs addressing the challenges faced by small 
businesses and setting the objectives as well as possible solutions to ensure their full integration in 
global value chains.  
 
We are also delighted to note, that Georgia joined the Declaration on Trade and Health which aims 
to enhance the cooperation among WTO members in facilitating trade in primary medical 
commodities as well as to ensure the smooth functioning of the supply chains. The Declaration Sets 
out the actions designed  to contribute to the WTO response to COVID -19 pandemic and to enhance 
resilience against future pandemics.  
 
Georgia commends the negotiated disciplines on services domestic regulation, which aims to 
facilitate trade in services and mitigate unintended tra de-restrictive effects of measures relating to 
licensing requirements and procedures, qualification requirements and procedures and technical 
standards. Relevant internal discussions are completed and I am happy to announce that Georgia is 
ready to join th is initiative in the margins of the MC12.  
 
Georgia very positively evaluates members efforts and WTO 's contribution to secure an agreement 
on fisheries subsidies by this Ministerial which would end the 20 years of hard negotiations. We 
believe that the ne w disciplines eliminating subsidies to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) 
fishing and prohibiting certain forms of fisheries subsidies that contribute to overcapacity and 
overfishing which underpins the UN Sustainable Development Goals Target 14.6, will serve its 
purpose and contribute to greater environmental sustainability.   
 
Georgia acknowledges the need for WTO reform and welcomes the efforts to address the challenges 
it faces to ensure its proper functioning. We closely observe the reform initia tives and 
recommendations offered by members and support transparent and inclusive discussions on this 
matter.   
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  We reaffirm our commitment towards the principles of open and transparent trade, constructiveness 
and readiness to contribute at the maximum possible extent to the development of liberal 
multilateral trading system leading to the sustainable global economi c growth.  
 
The importance of MC12 is instrumental and I wish the Ministerial a fruitful and successful outcome.  
 
 
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