Itsik Moshe, president of the Georgia-Israel Chamber of Commerce and founder of Israel House, believes that Georgia has a unique opportunity to expand its exports to Israel and partially replace Turkey, whose trade relations with Israel have collapsed amid political tensions.
“Due to political problems, Turkey’s $10 billion worth of exports to Israel have been halted. This creates a real opening for Georgia,” Moshe explained. He noted that discussions have already begun with members of Israel’s Economic Committee, aiming to strengthen Georgia’s role in supplying products to the Israel market.
According to him, the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia is well-positioned to take the lead, supported by a new intergovernmental agreement. Work is also underway to help Georgian producers obtain kosher certification, which would make their goods more competitive in Israel.
“We are talking about wine, tea, nuts, and other Georgian products that can enter and strengthen exports to Israel,” Moshe said.
Earlier this month, Turkey imposed severe restrictions on Israel, including:
- Banning Israeli ships from using Turkish ports
- Closing Turkish airspace to Israeli aircraft
- Requiring all vessels entering Turkish ports to prove they have no connection with Israel
- These measures have driven Turkey–Israel trade ties to a historic low, creating an urgent need for alternative suppliers.
Georgia’s Export Growth to Israel
Georgia has already seen rising exports to Israel in recent years:
- $32 million (Jan–Aug 2025)
- $22.7 million (same period 2024)
- $13.5 million (Jan–Jul 2023)
This year’s leading export products include:
- Fertilizers – $2.9 million
- Nuts and walnuts – $2.8 million
- Coffee, tea, and mate extracts/essences – $2.1 million
Moshe emphasized the importance of moving quickly to seize this opportunity:
“Achieving business goals requires timely and decisive action. When Turkey fell out of trade with Israel, Georgia should have immediately mobilized. The first step should be to aim for $100 million in exports, then $200 million, and $500 million within five years.”
With Turkey stepping back, Georgia has a chance to position itself as a reliable partner for Israel, strengthening economic ties and boosting its agricultural and food exports.
