TBILISI, May 24 (RIA Novosti, Marina Kvaratskhelia) - Georgia's top producer of mineral water said it was in talks with several countries in a bid to re-route exports of its famous brand Borzhomi from Russia to Central Asia.
Russia banned imports of Georgian wines and alcoholic drinks in March and two popular brands of mineral water at the beginning of May because health authorities said they failed to meet standards, a move widely condemned in Georgia as politically motivated.
Georgian Glass and Mineral Waters said the first deliveries of Borzhomi would go to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Mongolia, and Uzbekistan, and that export agreements had been reached with China and countries in the Middle East.
"We are doing our best to diversify exports of Borzhomi," company president Zaza Kikvadze said. "People in 28 countries have enjoyed Borzhomi, and the number of the Georgian brand's consumers will increase from now on."
