Commons Speaker meets with the Georgian ambassador
23 April 2021
Sales in wine to the UK from Georgia - one of the oldest wine regions in the world - increased by 155% during the pandemic, its London-based ambassador told the Speaker of the House of Commons.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle arranged the meeting with Sophie Katsarava MBE as part of his Speaker-led UK parliamentary diplomacy to establish enduring ties between countries and parliamentarians.
Meeting between Sir Lindsay Hoyle and Sophie Katsarava MBE
Ms Katsarava MBE hailed the growth in Georgia’s flourishing wine market as an example of the ‘fantastic relationship’ that was developing between the UK and the Eastern European country.
Georgia has already signed a trade deal with the UK in the wake of Brexit and is now hoping to boost its developing tourism industry once pandemic restrictions ease, she said.
More than nine million tourists visited Georgia in 2019 – almost three times its population – and Ms Katsarava said the nation hoped to attract even more this year.
‘Georgia has been gaining a good reputation for tourism,’ she said. ‘We want to open up to even more tourists this summer because it’s important for our economy - but of course we also have to manage for the virus.’
During the introductory meeting, Sir Lindsay Hoyle praised Georgia for increasing its number of women MPs by 15% following the October 2020 parliamentary elections (30 of 150), although he said there was some way to go to reach the European average of 24%.
He said links between the UK and Georgian Parliaments were well established and active, with Georgia hosting two visits by the UK-Georgia All-Party Parliamentary Group, chaired by Jonathan Djanogly MP, in recent years.
Georgia's 30-year anniversary
Ms Katsarava said Georgia, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary since independence, had been through many changes since 1991.
The country has taken delivery of a first batch of Pfizer/BioNTech and Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccinations to combat Covid, and the government is negotiating with other countries to secure sufficient jabs for the entire population, she said.
Attitudes had changed on many issues, especially towards LGBT and domestic violence, with the government adopting an anti-discrimination law, she said, adding that the country’s next ambition is to become a member of Nato.
Having been appointed as Georgia’s ambassador to the UK in April last years, Ms Katsarava said she hoped to go on a tour of the UK to attract new investment in her nation’s energy sector, agriculture and machinery.
She told Mr Speaker: ‘I have seen a lot of dynamism in our bilateral relations.
‘As soon as it is possible, you are officially invited to Georgia when there is a chance to visit. But before that, I am looking forward to meeting you in person.’
Image: UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor