Grodno enterprises are building a direct trade bridge with Tbilisi. An important step in this direction was a meeting held at the regional office of the BelTPP, where representatives of the region's construction and wood‑processing industries spoke with the Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of Georgia to the Republic of Belarus, Giorgi Saganeliadze.

The event was attended by Mikhail Myatlikov, Chairman of the Belarusian Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Sergei Myasnikov, Chairman of the Economics Committee of the Grodno Regional Executive Committee; and Dmitry Rozhev, Head of the Administration of the Grodnoinvest Special Economic Zone.

The main topic of the meeting was the entry of Grodno's goods onto the Georgian market. Participants examined in detail options for industrial cooperation, logistics of export supplies, and new, as‑yet‑unoccupied niches for foreign trade.

• Mutual trade turnover between Belarus and Georgia in the first six months of this year has shown strong growth. Moreover, Georgia's geographic location and developed infrastructure allow it to be viewed not only as a final destination but also as a key transit hub for supplying Belarusian products to Turkey and other countries by road and rail. Currently, Georgia is experiencing a genuine construction boom, especially on the Black Sea coast – in Batumi, Kobuleti, and Shekvetili. There, hotels, apartment complexes, and new highways are being built en masse. Significant changes are also taking place in the transport sector: construction of

– The Georgian market has long known and appreciated Belarusian dairy and meat products – they have an impeccable reputation and high ratings among the population. However, demand is now reaching a new level: the Caucasus region is in urgent need of building materials and woodworking products. Georgia is experiencing a shortage of plywood, MDF boards, laminate, and finishing coatings. Moreover, tourism is a powerful driver. The flow of vacationers is growing, and with it infrastructure is developing, new facilities are being built. This opens up excellent niches for Belarusian enterprises: from furniture supplies to materials for railway development, including sleepers and related products. Competition in the market is high, but high-quality Belarusian goods always find their buyer, – the diplomat emphasized.

The effectiveness of Grodno producers in the Georgian direction is clearly confirmed by official statistics. According to Dmitry Rozhnov, head of the administration of the SEZ “Grodnoinvest”, the business of Grodno region has already picked up a strong export pace and does not plan to reduce it:

– Exports to Georgia are growing. Last year the growth rate exceeded 170 percent. Already in the first half of this year, exports have increased by more than 30 percent. Currently, panel materials – fiberboard and particleboard – are being actively shipped to the Georgian market. Among the exported products are also canned meat-processing products, sausage casings, lecithin, wooden furniture, glued plywood, and other items. Therefore, we see prospects for developing this market, expanding supplies of our residents.

Regional businesses and relevant agencies face a clear task: to promptly turn the achieved agreements into new export contracts.