THE EU-GEORGIA TRADE RELATIONS CONSIDERED IN BRUSSELS

Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development reported that the Minister Giorgi Kobulia discussed the EU-Georgia trade relations with European Commissioner for Trade Cecilia Malmstrom.

The meeting was held in Brussels, within the first informal ministerial of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTA) with participation of Georgia, Ukraine and Moldova. More...

GEORGIAN ECONOMY MINISTER: WITH ASSISTANCE OF EUROPEAN COMMISSION, WE ARE CREATING SUPPORTING MECHANISM FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

Within his visit to Brussels (where the first informal ministerial of the deep and comprehensive free trade agreements (DCFTA) is held), Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Kobulia met European Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn.

As Kobulia declared, among other issues, the parties considered support to small and medium-sized enterprises. More...

PRIME MINISTER: WE WANT TO SEE IN GEORGIA INVESTMENTS OF BIGGER NUMBER OF AMERICAN COMPANIES

Georgia’s Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze, being with visit in the US, declared at the meeting with representatives of business circles in Washington DC that “We want to see investments of bigger number of the American companies in Georgia”.

As press service of the Premier said, strategic partnership between Georgia and the US was emphasized at the meeting. More...

ECONOMY MINISTER: WB EXPERTS’ RECOMMENDATIONS IN ENERGY SPHERE WERE NOT THE FINAL CONCLUSION

Georgia’s Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Giorgi Kobulia responded today to media publications about energy research of the World Bank (WB) and declared: “Information that, allegedly, electricity tariffs will catastrophically change as a result of construction of hydroelectric stations, is the clearest type of lie and sees manipulative deception of the population”.

According to the Minister, “In fact, experts of the WB prepared about a year ago recommendations of working character, which were intended for internal use and were not the final conclusion”. More...

ECONOMY MINISTRY: CERTIFICATION OF CIVIL AVIATION SPECIALISTS SIMPLIFIED

Getting certificates of state civil aviation specialists becomes simpler, Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development declared. Rules of aviation specialists’ certification are already respectively amended, the Ministry pointed. More...

PROHIBITION OF WHEAT/FLOUR MOTOR TRANSPORTATION THROUGH CUSTOMS TERRITORY OF GEORGIA IS POSTPONED FOR 1 YEAR

“We made the decision to postpone for one year enactment of the order, which restricts import/export of wheat or flour by motor transport through customs territory of Georgia”, Georgia’s Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani declared.

In particular, the order is postponed until October 1, 2019, Machavariani pointed, while stressed that “whether restriction will be seasonal or of other type in future”, is a subject of negotiations. More...

10 COMPANIES EXPRESSED INTEREST TO CONSTRUCTION OF KHEVI-UBISA ROAD SECTION

Envelopes with offers, submitted at the international tender on construction of Khevi-Ubisa road section (near Rikoti Pass), are opened, Georgian Roads Department reported. The offers were submitted by 10 companies. More...

“GEOCELL” GOT 800 MHZ LICENSE FOR 25.39M LARI

Georgian National Communication Commission declared that winner of auction, announced on license for use of radio-frequency range, is LLC Geocell. That mobile operator was the only participant of the auction. More...

MP NATO CHKHEIDZE LEFT “ALLIANCE OF PATRIOTS” BECAUSE OF ABSENCE OF SUPPORT IN CASE OF “OMEGA GROUP”

At the Parliament’s plenary session yesterday, MP Nato Chkheidze declared about leaving of Alliance of Patriots.

Chkheidze pointed that for the last two weeks, “very painful events” have developed around Omega Group and its member broadcasting company Iberia, which caused indignation in public and among opposition parties, and stated: “Against the background of this common spirit, unfortunately, I did not hear a voice of Alliance of Patriots anywhere”. More...

COMPETITION OF SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS “MELIORA 2018” IS ANNOUNCED IN GEORGIA

In Georgia, competition of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) “Meliora 2018” is announced. Applications are accepted through October 5. More...

Rezonansi: “IVANISHVILI STAYED IN CHKHARTISHVILI’S HOUSE FOR 5 HOURS: I SPOKE WITH BIDZINA ABOUT FOLKLORE”

The newspaper reports that Bidzina Ivanishvili (billionaire leader of ruling Georgian Dream) stayed in the house of businessman Vano Chkhartishvili for about 5 hours.

Chkhartishvili claims that he spoke with Ivanishvili about folklore only and did not discuss the recently publicized hidden record, where he distributes shares in cigarette business on behalf of Ivanishvili, the newspaper says. More...

Rezonansi: “LAW ON TOBACCO CAUSE A QUARREL BETWEEN MAJORITY MPS”

The Parliament considers legislative amendments, which release casinos form ban on tobacco smoking in public space.

However, Gambling Business Association considers that the law should mention not only casino, but also place of arrangement of hazardous/advantageous games (except incentive draws) in general. More...

Bankebi da Finansebi: “YACHT-CLUB TO BE BUILT IN BATUMI”

Ajara Minister of Finance and Economy Jaba Putkaradze declared that the autonomy government “has certain initiatives concerning cruise companies”.

“We think to create a regional hub, where international companies will have a certain support and other benefits, if they open regional offices and representations in Ajara”, Putkaradze explained. More...

AVERAGE HOTEL PRICES IN GEORGIA AND HOTEL PRICE INDEX (JULY 2018)

- In July 2018, the hotel price index increased by 2.7% compared to June 2018;

- In July 2018, the daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Adjara (10.1%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (5.9%), while the hotel prices decreased only in Tbilisi (-1.2%);

- In July, the average cost of a room in each category was as follows: 3-star hotel room – 148 GEL per night; 4-star hotel room – 254 GEL; 5-star hotel room – 455 GEL; guesthouse room – 72 GEL;

- In Tbilisi, the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel prices decreased by 2.1% in July 2018, compared to June 2018;

- On TripAdvisor, 1618 accommodation units are registered in Tbilisi, significantly exceeding the number of accommodation units registered in Baku – 456, Yerevan – 436 and Ankara – 364.

AVERAGE HOTEL PRICES

In Georgia, the average cost of a room¹ in a 3-star hotel was 148 GEL per night in July 2018. More...