Georgia is not yet ready to replace the Russian market with alternative destinations, and the government must work to restore exports to Russia, economist and former Deputy Agriculture Minister Gocha Tsopurashvili told BMG.
Tsopurashvili said Russia’s restrictions on certain Georgian products could be motivated by political considerations or genuine quality concerns. He urged the Agriculture Ministry to engage with Russian authorities and affected companies to restore exports wherever possible and prevent the list of restricted products from expanding.
“We are not ready to replace this market with another one. Around 65–70% of total sales depend on the Russian market, so replacing even part of it will be very difficult,” he said, adding that winemakers and other businesses should be involved in urgent consultations.
Russia has temporarily restricted imports of certain Georgian wines and non-alcoholic beverages, reportedly citing non-compliance with quality and safety requirements. The affected products include wine from Teliani Valley, Tbilvino and Askaneli Brothers, as well as products from other Georgian beverage companies, Coca-Cola produced in Georgia and Nabeglavi mineral water.
According to the article, Russia accounts for 67% of Georgia’s wine exports. In the first eight months of this year, Georgia sold $102 million worth of wine to Russia.
