Daily News January 16, 2018	Days:  29 15 16 17 18

politics

COORDINATION WORKING GROUP OF DONORS DISCUSSED ISSUES OF INCLUSIVE GROWTH

International coordination working group of donors held a meeting today, discussing issues of steady and inclusive growth.

As Georgian government reported, key topics were needs for fulfillment of free trade agreement with the EU (DCFTA), business-friendly environment, strategy of small and medium business development for 2018-2021 and development of entrepreneurship.




NDI: 39% OF POPULATION CONSIDER THAT GEORGIA DEVELOPS IN THE WRONG DIRECTION

Poll, conducted by National Democratic Institute (NDI), show that population of Georgia positively estimates local elections, held in October 2017, but number of those, who are dissatisfied with orientation of the country, has increased.

In particular, 39% of population consider that Georgia develops in the wrong direction, NDI specifies.

economics

ANNUAL INFLATION IN DECEMBER MADE UP 6.7%

Sakstat reported that annual inflation in December 2017 made up 6.7%. Inflation in comparison with the previous month (i.e. November) made up 0.8%.




IN DECEMBER, AVERAGE CONSUMER’S LIVING WAGE INCREASED BY 7.4% Y-O-Y

Sakstat reported that living wage for average consumer amounted in December 2017 to 153.7 lari.

In comparison with the same period of 2016 (143.1 lari), this indicator has increased by 7.4%.




AS OF DECEMBER, YIELD RATE OF 10-YEAR BONDS OF GEORGIAN GOVERNMENT MADE UP 2.9%

With reference to Bloomberg, National Bank of Georgia (NBG) reported that as of December 2017, yield rate of 10-year bonds, placed by Georgia government on London Stock Exchange, made up 2.9% against of 4.5% in December 2016.

In January 2017, the rate made up 4.1%, in March – 3.9%, in June – 3.5%, in September – 3.1%.




NUMBER OF INTERNATIONAL TRAVELERS, ARRIVED TO GEORGIA, INCREASED BY 18.8% Y-O-Y

National Tourism Administration reported that in 2017, Georgia was visited by 7.55 million international travelers, whose number has increased by 18.8% year-on-year.

Number of those foreign travelers, who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours and more (i.e. tourists), made up 3.48 million, increasing by 27.9% year-on-year, the Administration pointed.




HEAD OF NATIONAL TOURISM ADMINISTRATION: IN 2018, INCOME FROM INTERNATIONAL TOURISM WILL EXCEED $3B

Head of National Tourism Administration Giorgi Chogovadze declared that “we for the first time will have 8 million international travelers” in 2018. He expects that income from international tourism “for the first time in our country’s history will exceed $3 billion”.




NUMBER OF VISITORS OF PROTECTED AREAS INCREASED IN 2017 BY 30%

Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture reported that 954,397 people had visited protected areas of the country in 2017. If compared with 2016, the number has increased by 30%, the Ministry noted.




REGULATING COMMISSION: SINCE MAY, HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRICITY CONSUMERS WILL BE REMOVED FROM TARIFF REGULATION

National Energy and Water Supply Regulating Commission declared that after May 1 of this year consumers of high-voltage electricity will be removed from tariff regulation.

The mentioned is envisaged by amendments to law “On Power Industry and Natural Gas”, adopted on June 30, 2017.




IN 2017, GEORGIA’S WINE EXPORT INCREASED IN NATURAL EXPRESSION BY 54% Y-O-Y, WHILE IN MONETARY EXPRESSION – BY 49%

National Wine Agency reported that Georgia’s wine export of 2017 made up 76.7 million bottles (0.75 l), which were delivered to 53 countries. That volume by 54% exceeds an indicator of 2016.

business

AS OF DECEMBER, PRICE PER SHARE OF “BOG HOLDINGS” MADE UP 34.4 GBP, OF “TBC BANK GROUP” – 16.6 GBP

With reference to Bloomberg, National Bank of Georgia reported that as of December 2017, price per share of BOG Holdings amounted on London Stock Exchange to 34.4 GBP, against of 31 GBP in December 2016.

In its turn, price per share of another large Georgian banking group, TBC Bank Group, made up 16.6 GBP, against of 14.6 GBP a year ago.

society

11,625 VIOLATIONS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION WERE REVEALED IN 2017

Ministry of Environment Protection and Agriculture reported that its department for environmental supervision revealed during last year 11,625 facts of violations of environmental legislation.

Damage, caused in 2017 to environment, has totaled to 8.65 million lari, the Ministry specified.