Economic Press Monitor April 1 - 7, 2018	Days:  24 31 07 14 21

economic & politics

LIBERALI: “THE GOVERNMENT ALLOCATED 5,000 EUR FOR PAYMENT OF COMPENSATION TO VANO MERABISHVILI”

April 5, 2018 - In order to execute decision of Strasbourg Court on case of Vano Merabishvili (ex-premier and former minister of interior), Georgian government allocated the sum, equivalent to 5,000 EUR, to the Justice Ministry, the magazine reports.

The matter concerns decision of the European Court of November 28, 2017.




FORBES GEORGIA: “PUBLIC DEPARTMENTS PROHIBITED TO PURCHASE CARS OF BLACK COLOR”

April 5, 2018 - According to the resolution of Georgian government, state departments are prohibited to purchase cars of black color, the magazine reports. The resolution allows any color, except black.




TABULA: “RESERVE FUND OF THE PRESIDENT WILL FINANCE STUDYING OF CASES OF POLITICAL PRISONERS”

April 3, 2018 - Ruling Georgian Dream registered in the Parliament on March 23 the draft bill, symbolically named “Girgvliani’s Amendments” (Sandro Girgvliani died in 2006 and several officers of the Interior Ministry were sentenced because of his murder), Tabula reports.

Within the legislative initiative, amendments will be made to Criminal Code.




KVIRIS PALITRA: “THERE ARE ENOUGH REASONS FOR ANTI-CORRUPTION SERVICE’S ENTRY IN THE MINISTRY”

April 2, 2018 - According to lobby information, the government will be reshuffled once again before presidential elections (in October of this year) and several acting ministers will have to leave their posts, the newspaper says.

Expert Gia Khukhashvili declared to the newspaper that “changes in the government will surely continue”.

macroeconomics & budget

REZONANSI: “STRENGTHENING OF LARI WILL CONTINUE, FINANCIERS EXPECT 2.36”

April 5, 2018 - There are several days that national currency is strengthening rapidly and, apparently, it will keep the course during the medium-term period too, the newspaper says. As the article notes, strengthening of lari is caused by depreciation of the US dollar, the end of quarter and pre-Easter preparation.




FORBES GEORGIA: “SECTORS, WHERE MOST FOREIGNERS ARE EMPLOYED”

April 4, 2018 - Referring to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, the magazine reports that out of 96,536 interviewed enterprises, 9,199 ones had employed at the time of interviews 17,595 foreign citizens.

Almost half of employed foreigners (8,379 people, i.e. 48.4%) occupy posts of directors and other top managers, the article specifies.




TABULA: “PROPERTY AGENCY REFUSES TO HAND OVER LAND TO “GEMFEST” FOR FESTIVAL”

April 4, 2018 - Georgian electronic music festival GEMFest-2018 will not held on the state-owned territory in Anaklia any more, Tabula says.

As the article reports, the reason is refusal of the Agency on State Property Management.

energy, oil & gas

REZONANSI: “THE COUNTRY SLIDES TO ENERGY CRISIS”

April 5, 2018 - The population protest against construction of hydroelectric stations accepted mass character, the newspaper says. On April 4, the protest action was held in front of administration of the government of Georgia.




REZONANSI: “THE CAPITAL WILL NOT AVOID THE RISE OF GAS IN PRICE?”

April 3, 2018 - The newspaper refers to unnamed experts, who consider that new owner of KazTransGas-Tbilisi (Tbilisi gas distributor), Georgian Industrial Group, will have to invest in rehabilitation of distribution network. That means that issue of revision of the tariff for consumers in Tbilisi will be put in agenda, the article states.

conflict and court

BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “BATUMI SEAPORT RELEASES STATEMENT IN CONNECTION WITH THE FACT OF EMPLOYEES’ PROTEST”

April 4, 2018 - In the morning on April 2, group of 50 employees gathered in front of gate of administrative building of Batumi seaport, who expressed protest in connection with the measures, taken by the port for financial and economic stabilization, statement of Batumi seaport says.

According to the statement, 8 participants of the protest went on hunger strike already on April 2.




REZONANSI: “TBILISI SUBWAY CAN STOP – ENGINE DRIVERS DEMAND RAISE OF REMUNERATION”

April 3, 2018 - Part of engine drivers of Tbilisi Metro held a protest action, the newspaper reports. The drivers demand raise of after-tax hourly payment from 7 to 10 lari.

companies

REZONANSI: ““SAKNAKHSHIRI” RELEASES THE STATEMENT”

April 5, 2018 - Saknakhshiri (Georgian Coal) released the statement, saying that on April 5 (approximately, at 03:50), “supposedly, there was a mountain blow – a collapse of side layers of a tunnel, which is accompanied by spread of a shock air wave”.

According to estimation, the shock wave extended in capital tunnels of the section, killing on the spot 6 workers and injuring 3, the company reports.




FORBES GEORGIA: “STAFF, MOST WANTED BY GEORGIAN EMPLOYERS”

April 2, 2018 - Among interviewed enterprises, 10.4% plan to hire new employees, the magazine reports with reference to the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development.

According to research, increase staff in number is wanted mostly by micro (72.2%) and small (20.7%) enterprises.




EUGEORGIA.INFO: “WITH EUROPEAN FINANCIAL SUPPORT, “KVARLIS MARANI” RAISED PRODUCTIVITY BY 80%”

April 2, 2018 - Winemaking company Kvarlis Marani (Kvareli Wine Cellar, founded in 2009) received the first financing within EU4Business-EBRD credit line in March 2017, Eugeorgia.Info reports.

Total volume made up 1.3 million lari that was used for purchase of stainless steel fermenter and new bottling line in Italy, the article specifies.

transport & communications

REZONANSI: “TBILISI AIRPORT LOOKS LIKE HEN HOUSE!”

April 3, 2018 - Expert Iase Zautashvili claims that conclusion of International Air Transport Association (IATA) of 2014 described in details that deplorable state, in which Tbilisi airport is, and that it does not meet any international standards. IATA experts advised then the government to cancel the contract with TAV Urban (Turkish operator of the airport), he declares.

international cooperation

EUGEORGIA.INFO: “GEORGIAN COMPANIES STARTED JOINING TO ENTERPRISE EUROPE NETWORK”

April 2, 2018 - After enactment of free trade agreement between Georgia and the EU (DCFTA), Georgian companies got opportunity to use benefits of membership in Enterprise Europe Network (EEN), Eugeorgia.Info says.

The article indicates that the network can be used by both, exporters and importers.

finances & banking

KVIRIS PALITRA: “MORTGAGE HUNTING”

April 2, 2018 - The Parliament discusses the new legislative initiative, related to mortgaged property, the newspaper reports.

The draft bill brings the new concept, “the last housing”, i.e. the real estate, which is only one for the debtor and members of his/her family.

agriculture & food

BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “WHY INVESTMENTS IN AGRICULTURE DECREASE”

April 4, 2018 - Despite growth of foreign direct investments in the country, reduction of investments is recorded in agriculture, the newspaper states.

Investments in agriculture have decreased almost 6 times, whereas share of occupied in this sector is quite big, reaching 46%, the article specifies.