Azernews.Az

By Sabina Idayatova

In January 2013, Georgia's trade turnover with the EU amounted to $179 million, or seven percent less compared to the figure in the same period of 2012.

The Georgian Statistics Service reported that the country's exports amounted to $40 million (with an increase of six percent) and imports to $139 million (with a decrease of 11 percent).

In general, the EU countries' share in Georgia's trade turnover hit 27 percent, including in exports 20percent and in imports 30 percent.

The share of the EU in Georgia's foreign trade turnover hit 27 percent, including exports 20 percent and imports 30 percent. The figures were 29 percent, 24 percent and 31 percent, respectively, in January 2012.

Some 37 percent of the trade deficit (34 per cent in January 2012 ) accounted for the European Union countries.

However, the Georgian foreign trade turnover with the countries of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) has increased.

In January 2013, the foreign trade turnover of Georgia with the CIS countries totaled $219 million, or two percent more than the figure in January 2012.

According to the report, in money terms, Georgia's exports amounted to $88 million (a 10 percent increase) and imports to $132 million (a three per cent decrease). The CIS countries' share in foreign trade turnover of Georgia hit 33 percent, including 45 percent in exports and 28 percent in imports . The figures were 33 percent, 51 percent and 27 percent, respectively, in January 2012.

In January 2013, a negative balance in the trade with the CIS countries decreased by 25 percent.

Georgia joined the CIS in December 1993, but withdrew from the organization in August 2009. However, the South Caucasus republic remains party to more than 70 international agreements adopted within the CIS framework.

CIS is a loose association of former Soviet republics except Baltic states and Georgia, aimed at coordination of efforts among its members in the realm of developing trade, finance, lawmaking, and security, as well as crime prevention. The organization was founded in December 1991 by the Republic of Belarus, the Russian Federation, and Ukraine, when their leaders met outside Brest in Belarus and signed an agreement on the dissolution of the USSR and the creation of CIS as a successor entity.