Jordan, Georgia to be linked by direct flights — envoy

AMMAN — A direct air link between Jordan and Georgia will be established with two flights per week, Georgian Ambassador to Jordan Zaza Kandelaki announced.

During a meeting with reporters on the occasion of his country's national day, the envoy said that Jordan and Georgia are considering establishing a Georgian culture centre at the Baptism Site of Jesus Christ to attract Georgian tourists and pilgrims to the Kingdom, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported on Monday. 

Around 100,000 Georgians visit Jerusalem annually, the ambassador said, noting that these tourists can also be attracted to Jordan's tourism environment, especially the Baptism Site, one of the world's most important religious destinations.

The envoy highlighted the need for boosting tourism cooperation between the two countries, both of which are among those less-affected by the coronavirus pandemic, as it is "an important source of national income for both sides".

Touching on the religious coexistence shown in Jordan and Georgia, the envoy said that an agreement has been signed with Jordan’s Department of Antiquities to conduct archaeological excavations in Karak's Jabal Shihan region, the site of an 11th-century Georgian church.  

Highlighting the two countries’ vital roles in bringing peace and stability to the Middle East and Caucasus regions, Kandelaki lauded the Kingdom's leading part in this arena.

Regarding economic cooperation, he said that trade exchange between the countries is still "modest", pointing to the importance of enhancing cooperation in the trade of meat, vegetables and fruit.

The ambassador added that talks are being held with the Ministry of Agriculture and related bodies to discuss the possibility of resuming meat export from Georgia into the Jordanian market.

The diplomat also drew attention to Jordanian-Georgian cooperation in the field of education, noting that two annual scholarship programmes are allocated for Jordanian students to study in Georgia. A number of Georgian students are also studying Arabic in Jordan.

He expressed appreciation to the Jordanian authorities for supporting the evacuation of Georgian families residing in Jordan during the COVID-19 outbreak, Petra added.