A ceremonial event marking the 25th anniversary of Georgia’s accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO) was held at WTO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva organized the event, attended by WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. Key speakers included Mikheil Sarjveladze, Minister of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Protection; Genadi Arveladze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development; and Revaz Lominadze, Ambassador of Georgia to Switzerland. Representatives of the diplomatic corps and other guests were also present.
In his address, Deputy Minister Arveladze congratulated attendees on the anniversary and thanked the WTO Secretariat for its support.
“Today, Georgia is proud to be seen as a reliable trading partner, a champion of liberal economic principles, and a committed member of the multilateral trading system. The WTO has played a crucial role in this progress by fostering trade stability, dialogue, and reform,” he said.
Arveladze emphasized Georgia’s continued efforts to deepen trade ties, both within and beyond the region, through preferential and free trade agreements. These agreements now provide access to markets with over 2.3 billion consumers.
The Deputy Minister noted that Georgia has been an active participant in WTO initiatives aimed at strengthening the multilateral trading system. Joining the WTO 25 years ago, he said, marked a pivotal step in Georgia’s integration into the global economy.
“This required aligning our policies with international standards, promoting transparency, and engaging in global trade. Since then, Georgia has undergone a significant transformation—building an open, competitive, and investor-friendly economy with broad global market access,” he added.
An exhibition held alongside the event showcased Georgia’s economic reforms since joining the WTO.
