Economic Press Monitor

IN THIS ISSUE:

Economic relations between France and Georgia have amplified recently, notes author of the article, executive director of Chamber of Commerce and Industry France-Georgia Etienne Gachet-Mauroz.

Tourism, agriculture and transport were named as spheres, in which development France can render assistance to Georgian government, the author specifies.

According to primary version of the draft budget-2018, the government plans borrowing of 1.6 billion lari abroad and 400 million lari – domestically, as a result the governmental debt will reach 18.1 billion lari, exceeding by 94% the indicator of 2013, Tabula reports.

As Deputy Finance Minister Nikoloz Gagua explains, main reason of the debt growth in nominal expression (in lari) is strengthening of the US dollar, while volume of debt, expressed in dollars, remains stable.

Referring to obtained confidential information, MP from United National Movement Roman Gotsiridze declares that Russian Gazprom pays Georgia $3 for transit of 1,000 cubic m gas per each 100 km, Tabula reports.

The article notes that the total paid sum is 3 times less than Georgia had received for gas transit before.

Analyst Vazha Beridze considers that “quite adverse picture is seen in a prism of financing” of parties during the pre-election period. Elections “are unambiguously free”, he states, pointing the same time that “electoral subjects are obviously put in noncompetitive conditions”.

According to media monitoring, most negatively the authority was reported in air of Rustavi-2 broadcasting company (R2), which in turn, had aired most positively National Movement and its candidate for Tbilisi Mayor’s office Zaal Udumashvili (former anchor of this TV company), Netgazeti.Ge reports.

According to the same monitoring, Public Broadcaster and broadcasting company Imedi were characterized by “soft, not watch-dog position” concerning the authority.