Daily News

IN THIS ISSUE:

Sakstat published preliminary data, estimating that average real economic growth in the 1^st quarter made up 5%.

Of it, in March real GDP growth stood at 5.3%.

Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development reported that revenues from tourism, gained in January-March, made up $435 million. This volume is increased by 23% year-on-year.

Tbilisi hosted first meeting of Georgia-Moldova intergovernmental commission on economic cooperation today.

As Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development said, the meeting scoped consideration of cooperation enhancement in such fields as transport, tourism, energy, communications and innovation, environment protection, etc.

Georgian Agriculture Ministry reported that Georgian side considered with Kyrgyz delegation prospects of cooperation in winemaking and viticulture.

The delegation members showed interest in vine growing, as well as Georgian wine and brandy spirits production, the Ministry said.

Chair of the Parliament Irakli Kobakhidze declared that the Parliament and business sector will actively cooperate within various formats. “The Parliament will be absolutely open for cooperation with business”, he assured.

Chair of the Parliament’s Branch Economy and Economic Policy Committee Roman Kakulia considers that legislation on insolvency necessarily needs perfection.

Gaps of insolvency system were considered at meeting, organized today by the Committee and Business and Economic Center (BEC).

Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Giorgi Gakharia declared that property expropriation for urgent public needs, namely – for installation of ropeway’s stationary facilities, “was our personal initiative”.

The Minister stated the mentioned in response to Georgian Young Lawyers Association’s assumption that the mentioned initiative is related with “Panorama Tbilisi” (project of ex-premier billionaire Bidzina Ivanishvili).

Roads Department declared that construction works are underway on the second section (18 km) of Kobuleti bypass road.

Within construction of this section, 15 bridges will be built, using new technology at that, the Department noted.

Al Fardan Group, one of the largest Qatari companies, is interested in investing in Georgia. As Georgian government said, the mentioned was declared by the company’s president and CEO Omar Hussain Al-Fardan during today’s meeting with Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.

Tbilisi branch of Turkish Ziraat Bank will continue operation from May as full-fledge bank under name of Ziraat Bank Georgia, National Bank of Georgia (NBG) announced. Respective banking license within the mentioned change has been already issued.

Georgian National Communication Commission declared about launch of consideration of claim, submitted by Caucasus Online against MagtiCom, Geocell, Mobitel (Beeline) and SilkNet.

Caucasus Online disputes restriction by the mentioned companies of interconnection service for international calls termination without required preliminary consent of the Commission.