Daily News

IN THIS ISSUE:

At the plenary session on December 13, the Parliament approved the state budget for 2018 with 111 votes pro.

While presenting the draft budget, nominee for the Finance Minister’s post Mamuka Bakhtadze declared that the budget is planned on the basis of conservative indicator of economic growth, which for 2018 makes up 4.5%, while will be 5-6% in the next years.

Mamuka Bakhtadze, nominee for the Finance Minister’s post, declared that the Ministry will conduct reforms in 2018 in support to the private sector. “Not a single reform will be carried out without consultations with business”, he assured.

Mamuka Bakhtadze, nominee for the Finance Minister’s post, declared that introduction of the state investments’ management system will begin in 2018. “In medium-term period, full cycle of management of investment projects will be created”, he said.

Mamuka Bakhtadze, nominee for the Finance Minister’s post, pointed that IMF has published this year assessment in respect of fiscal transparency.

According to this document, Georgia “showed best or good practice” in 18 out of 36 indicators, Bakhtadze declared and added: “only 8 indicators refer to issues, which demand introduction of relevant activities”.

Within Phase III (2018-2021) of European Neighborhood Program for Agricultural and Rural Development (ENPARD), the EU will allocate additional 230 million lari (77.5 million EUR) to Georgia.

That was announced during summing up results of Phase I of ENPARD in Tbilisi on December 13.

11 organizations, offering legal aid, have been united in a network, which aims to ease receiving free legal aid by population of Georgia. Presentation of the network and its web portal was held in Tbilisi today.

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation declared that envelops with offers, submitted for prequalification stage of selection of contractor, which will conduct environmental and social impact assessment of underground gas storage construction on Samgori South Arch, were opened these days.

Offers within the provided term were submitted by 8 companies, the Corporation noted.

At the meeting today, National Energy and Water Supply Regulating Commission agreed investment plans of EnergoPro Georgia (regional energy distributor) and ZhinvalHES (hydroelectric station of Tbilisi water company GWP).

Volume of investments of EnergoPro Georgia, agreed for 2017-2020, makes up 278.4 million lari.

Competition Agency declared that it gave consent for merger of Alta and Metromart (retailers of household electronics). The companies submitted notice on the planned concentration to the Agency on October 18.