Daily News

IN THIS ISSUE:

According to preliminary estimation of Sakstat, year-on-year growth of GDP in the 1^st quarter made up 7.4%. GDP growth in March reached 8.3%.

Sakstat reported that size of Georgia’s population as of January 1 has amounted to 4.49 million people. If compared with January 1, 2013, this showing is increased by 0.1%.

Mission of IMF, being with visit in Georgia, discusses with Georgian authorities ongoing processes and future cooperation plans.

Yesterday, the mission held a meeting in the Finance Ministry, discussing prospects of new program launch in Georgia.

Georgian Finance Ministry reported that the Minister Nodar Khaduri and Chinese ambassador to Georgia Yue Bin have visited Gardabani today and acquainted with operation of X-ray scanners on customs checkpoints Gardabani and Mtkvari.

To remind, X-ray scanner for Gardabani checkpoint was procured in 2011 with grant of 30 million CNY ($4.2 million), allotted by Chinese government.

Director of Financial Stability and Competitiveness Center and former vice-president of National Bank of Georgia Merab Kakulia declared that Association Agreement with EU and Georgian legislation have some contradictions in respect of foreigners’ right of land ownership in Georgia.

Kakulia reminded that Georgian legislation was amended with restriction for foreigners and their companies to own agricultural land in the country, being valid until December 31 of this year.

National Bank of Georgia reported that 44.8% of total credits, issued by Georgian banks (both in national and foreign currencies) to national economy as of April 1, accounted for trade (2.42 billion lari). This volume is declined by 1% quarter-on-quarter, but increased by 6.7% year-on-year.

Head of Agriculture Ministry’s Agency for Projects Management Irakli Moistsrapishvili declared that preferential agrolending program is planned to expand with funding offering for farming machinery’s procurements.

So far, it is not decided, if this funding will be offered as separate component or respective option will be added to the 3^rd component (establishment of new enterprise or re-equipment of existing one).

Charity fund Cartu declared that it “has no and could not have any liabilities to infrastructural objects of the state”.

“Construction of rugby stadiums’ network was implemented by good will of the fund, (…) all projects are implemented for the state and will be handed over to the state after completion”, Cartu said.

National Communication Commission has defined procedures, related to election/dismissal of chairman, at the meeting, held today.

To remind, according to acting law, chairman is elected by the Commission by majority of votes of all members (this norm became effective in October 2013).

The government decided to pardon penalty, imposed on LLC CBD Development because of fail to meet investment liabilities. While reporting on the decision, the government specified that the matter concerns liabilities, undertaken by purchase agreement of 2010 with LLC State Provisioning.