ISLAMABAD, May 15: Pakistan’s exports to Georgia recorded a 192.8 per cent growth during the fiscal year 2006 to $1.233 billion as against $685 million over the previous year.

This was stated by Commerce Minister Humayun Akhtar Khan in reply to a question by MNA Nawab Abdul Ghani Talpur seeking year-wise details of trade volume between Pakistan and Georgia during the last three years.

He said Pakistan’s major exports to Georgia include cotton fabrics, madeups articles of textile material, clothing and textile fabrics, cotton yarn and carpets and rugs. Pakistan’s major imports from Georgia include machinery and parts, chemicals and iron.

The minister informed the national assembly the trade between the two countries was insignificant. Georgia is a member of the former Soviet Union and is heavily under the influence of the Russian Federation.

He said Pakistan is currently negotiating a FTA with Russia. The FTA when finalised and implemented will also help increase trade with Georgia.

To another question, the minister replied that Pakistan’s exports to Armenia recorded a negative growth of 50 per cent to $186 million in the fiscal year 2006 as against $280 million over the corresponding year.

The minister said Pakistan’s major exports to Armenia include cotton fabrics, made-ups articles of textile material, chemicals and sports goods. The minister, however, did not mention the reasons for the significant fall in exports to the country. He presented the same recipe of saying that the proposed FTA with Russia would help increase trade with Armenia.