MINISTRY OF ECONOMY
AND SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
OF GEORGIA

Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Tamar Ioseliani, met with the Deputy Minister of Transport and Logistics of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Ahmed bin Sufyan Al-Hassan.

The meeting was held within the framework of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum.

During the meeting, the parties discussed cooperation between the two countries in the field of transport. Emphasis was placed on the Air Transport Agreement signed between Georgia and Saudi Arabia in 2019, which significantly contributed to the growth of passenger traffic and air traffic between the two countries - as of the first 9 months of this year, the number of passengers transported between Georgia and Saudi Arabia exceeds the similar figure of last year by 12,8% and almost 9 times the number of passengers transported before the Agreement was signed. Currently, the Saudi Arabian airline Flynas operates flights between the countries on two routes, with 7 flights per week.

Cooperation in the field of maritime transport was also covered during the conversation. It was noted that a Memorandum of Understanding on the Mutual Recognition of Seafarers’ Certificates was signed between the countries in 2021, which allows Georgian seafarers to be employed and serve on ships sailing under the flag of Saudi Arabia. The parties also reviewed prospects for cooperation in the areas of maritime education, digitalization of maritime transport, and green transport.

Maritime Transport Agency Director, Ivane Abashidze, also attended the meeting.