UAE, Georgia to Double Trade to $1.5 Billion Annually

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Georgia's President virtually attend the signing of the comprehensive partnership between both countries. (WAM)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Georgia's President virtually attend the signing of the comprehensive partnership between both countries. (WAM)
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UAE, Georgia to Double Trade to $1.5 Billion Annually

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Georgia's President virtually attend the signing of the comprehensive partnership between both countries. (WAM)
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid and Georgia's President virtually attend the signing of the comprehensive partnership between both countries. (WAM)

The UAE and Georgia have signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement, with the aim of trebling non-oil trade from $481 million to $1.5 billion within five years.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said: “The Partnership Agreement with Georgia reflects our consistent approach to stimulating economic growth and trade and investment exchange with friendly countries, in a way that contributes to reviving international trade and helping the global economy face current challenges.”

“In the UAE, we have a firm belief that constructive international cooperation and sustainable economic growth are capable of achieving stability and peace and enhancing the quality of people’s lives,” he added.

The agreement was signed during a virtual ceremony by Dr. Thani Al Zeyoudi, UAE Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Georgian Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili.

“It is our key priority to strengthen relations with one of the leading states of the world – the United Arab Emirates,” said Prime Minister of Georgia Irakli Garibashvili.

“The UAE has always been at the avant-garde of innovations and progress, which is a significant precondition of future hope and optimism. We are confident that this new stage in the relationship of our two countries made for the benefit of our people will facilitate the intensification and simplification of trade and economic relations.”

The comprehensive partnership agreement with Georgia is the sixth for the UAE as part of its plans to double non-oil trade to AED4 trillion ($1.08 trillion) and Emirati exports to AED800 billion ($217.7 billion) by 2031.

Al Zeyoudi said: “The UAE-Georgia CEPA unites two countries that have complementary strengths – both nations are strategic crossroads for trade, both possess dynamic, rapidly-expanding service economies and both share a similar vision for attracting FDI – with policies that welcome business and promote robust growth.”



Maersk Rules Out Suez Canal Return Until 'Well Into 2025'

Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
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Maersk Rules Out Suez Canal Return Until 'Well Into 2025'

Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca
Maersk containers are transported by train in Ronda, Spain October 27, 2024. REUTERS/Jon Nazca

Danish shipping group A.P. Moller-Maersk said on Thursday it expects strong demand for shipping goods around the globe to continue in the coming months, though does not expect to resume sailing through the Suez Canal until "well into 2025.”
Attacks on vessels in the Red Sea by Iran-aligned Houthi militias have disrupted a shipping route vital to east-west trade, with prolonged re-routing of shipments pushing freight rates higher and causing congestion in Asian and European ports.
"There are no signs of de-escalation and it is not safe for our vessels or personnel to go there ... Our expectation at this point is that it will last well into 2025," Chief Executive Vincent Clerc told journalists, according to Reuters.
Maersk, viewed as a barometer of world trade, said in January it was diverting all container vessels from Red Sea routes around Africa's Cape of Good Hope for the foreseeable future.
The company said on Thursday it had seen strong demand in the third quarter especially driven by exports out of China and Southeast Asia.
Clerc said he saw no signs of a slowdown in volumes from Europe or North America in the coming months.
Maersk also confirmed robust preliminary third-quarter earnings released on Oct. 21 driven by high freight rates, when it also raised its full-year forecasts citing solid demand and the continuing disruption to shipping in the Red Sea.
Maersk's shares rose 2.4% by 0957 GMT.