Daily News April 18, 2018	Days:  16 17 18 19 20

politics

FINANCE MINISTER: DURING VISIT TO THE US, WE WILL HOLD MEETINGS IN ORDER TO INCREASE ASSISTANCE OF INTERNATIONAL FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

Within the visit to the US, “we will have meetings with aim to increase that assistance, which we receive for Georgia from international financial institutions”, Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared in Facebook Live broadcast today.

As the Minister noted, those macroeconomic parameters, which were reached at the end of 2017, and those of the 1^st quarter of this year, provide Georgian government the ground for negotiations on increase of the financing.




FINANCE MINISTER: SINCE JULY, UNIFIED ELECTRONIC TAX DOCUMENT WILL BE ENACTED

Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared that unified electronic tax document will be enacted after July 1. Today, businessmen generally submit 5 documents to tax authorities, he noted in Facebook Live broadcast today.

economics

IN MARCH, LIVING WAGE INCREASED BY 4.3% Y-O-Y

Sakstat reported that living wage for the average consumer amounted in March to 156.7 lari.

If compared with the same period of 2017 (150.3 lari), this indicator has increased by 4.3%.




IN Q1, EXPORT INCREASED BY 28.4% Y-O-Y, IMPORT – BY 21.6%

Sakstat reported that Georgia’s foreign trade turnover (without not declared trade) amounted in the 1^st quarter to $2.82 billion, increasing by 23% year-on-year.

At that, Georgia’s export made up $740.4 million (year-on-year growth – 28.4%), while import – $2.08 billion (growth – 21.6%).




IN 2017, AREA OF CROPS DECREASED BY 10.5%

Sakstat released estimation for 2017, saying that total area of agricultural crops made up 214,900 ha. If compared with the previous year, the area has decreased by 10.5%.




FINANCE MINISTER: VAT REFUND THIS YEAR HAS TO MAKE UP 450M LARI

In this year, VAT refund has to amount to 450 million lari, i.e. about 1% of GDP, Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared in Facebook Live broadcast today. In the 1^st quarter, refund already made up 107 million, meaning that we follow a timetable, he noted.




REQUIREMENTS OF RESPONSIBLE CREDITING ESTABLISHED FOR COMMERCIAL BANKS

Since May 7, crediting without thorough analysis of solvency of borrower will became restricted for commercial banks, National Bank of Georgia (NBG) declared. In total, such credits should not exceed 25% of supervising capital of the bank, NBG said.




FINANCE MINISTER: THERE ARE IMPORTANT QUESTIONS IN PUBLIC IN CONNECTION WITH PAWNSHOPS’ ACTIVITY

There are important questions in public in connection with activity of pawnshops, Finance Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared in Facebook Live broadcast today.

As the Minister stated, “list of assets, which should not be allowed in pawnshops’ activity, has to be clearly defined”.




GEORGIA LAUNCHES NEW MARKETING CAMPAIGN ON “TRIPADVISOR”

Georgia begins new marketing campaign on tourism portal TripAdvisor, National Tourism Administration reported. The campaign will last for 1 year.

business

“IPM”: AMONG OIL COMPANIES, “SOCAR” WAS MOST ACTIVE IN MEDIA IN 2017

In 2017, SOCAR was most active in Georgian media, accounting for 46% of total exposures, Institute for Polling and Marketing (IPM) reported.

Indicator of Wissol made up 28%, Gulf – 11%, LUKOil – 7%, RomPetrol – 4%, Frego – 2%.