China's Hong Kong, Georgia sign Free Trade Agreement

HONG KONG - China's Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) and Georgia signed a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) here Thursday, which will enhance the trade and investment flows between the two economies.

This is the first FTA between China's Hong Kong and a country in the Caucasus. It will become effective after completion of the necessary procedures. This will bring Hong Kong's traders and businessmen legal certainty and better market access to the Georgian market.

Edward Yau, secretary for Commerce and Economic Development of the HKSAR government, and Genadi Arveladze, deputy minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, signed the FTA during the Belt and Road Summit that was held Thursday in Hong Kong.

"Georgia is a close trading partner of Hong Kong in the Caucasus and an emerging market with great potential for further growth," Yau said, adding that the FTA will provide a platform for both parties to take their bilateral economic and trade relations to a new level.

"This is important for us to sign the agreement with Hong Kong, which is the hub for trade and investment," Arveladze said.