Civil Georgia:

* April 20, 2010 | 01:22

Georgian FM to Visit Bolivia, Ecuador

The visit will come month after FM of breakaway Abkhaz toured Latin America.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22212

* April 19, 2010 | 23:26

Saakashvili Continues U.S. Visit

His schedule also includes trip to Los Angeles to address Global Conference.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22211

* April 19, 2010 | 20:10

CEC Reviews Voters List

No major change in current number of voters in the list expected.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22210

* April 19, 2010 | 17:30

Gov’t Reports 13% Increase of Tax Revenues in Q1

The government expects tax revenues to reach GEL 4.4 billion in 2010.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22209

* April 19, 2010 | 12:42

Three Election Blocs Registered for Local Elections

Total of ten parties are grouped into three election blocs to run in May 30 elections on a joint ticket.

http://www.civil.ge/eng/article.php?id=22208

> For further information: Civil Georgia

 Parliament of Georgia:

The Parliament of Georgia issued its weekly news report.

> For further information: Parliament of Georgia

 Sarke:

* economics

TAX REVENUES INCREASED BY 13% YEAR-ON-YEAR IN Q1 2010

According to the government of Georgia, tax revenues made up 1.13 billion lari in the 1st quarter of 2010, increasing by 13% year-on-year.

Out of total, 497 million lari (i.e. 44%) was share of VAT (year-on-year increase – 15%).

NBG VICE-PRESIDENT: CRISIS HAS SHOWED, HOW SIGNIFICANT CORRECT BANKING SUPERVISION IS

According to Archil Mestvirishvili, vice-president of National Bank of Georgia (NBG), global financial crisis has confirmed once more, how much important role has a correct regulation of banking supervision in crisis management. Due to tough banking supervision, Georgia had managed to escape fluctuations caused by August War of 2008 and global financial crisis, Mestvirishvili said.

VOLUME OF TRANSACTIONS, MADE BY LOCALLY-ISSUED PLASTIC CARDS, AMOUNTED TO 1.17B LARI IN Q1 2010

National Bank of Georgia (NBG) reported that volume of operations, made in the 1st quarter through the plastic cards, issued by resident banks, amounted to 1.17 billion lari. The volume is increased by 3.8% if compared to the 1st quarter of 2009.

DEBIT CARDS ACCOUNTED FOR 87.6% OF TOTAL NUMBER OF BANKING CARDS IN Q1 2010

According to National Bank of Georgia (NBG), total number of plastic cards in circulation made up 4.02 million as of March 31, increasing by 18.5% if compared to the 1st quarter of 2009.

At that, debit cards accounted for 87.6% of total number, while credit cards – 12.4%.

NUMBER OF ATMS INCREASED BY 3 IN Q1 2010

National Bank of Georgia (NBG) reported that number of ATMs made up 1,368 as of March 31. The number has increased by 3 units if compared to December 2009 and by 20 units if compared to March 2009.

GEORGIA IS STILL INTERESTED IN PURCHASING X-RAY SCANNERS IN TERMS OF CHINESE GRANT

The Georgian government charged Finance Ministry to hold negotiations with Chinese side on purchasing X-ray scanners for customs houses in terms of Chinese grant. The matter concerns purchase, cost 10 million CNY (10 CNY / 2.5669 GEL).

WB FUNDS REHABILITATION OF OZURGETI-SHEMOKMEDI-BZHUZHAHES ROAD SECTIONS AND RIKOTI TUNNEL BY-PASSING ROAD

Motor-Road Department reports that rehabilitation of Ozurgeti-Shemokmedi-BzhuzhaHES road section in Guria region is implemented through World Bank’s credit, amounting to 4.9 million lari. Rehabilitation of 17-km road is conducted by LLC Black Sea Group.

LAND PLOTS WILL BE BOUGHT-OUT FOR CONSTRUCTION OF MARABDA-AKHALKALAKI-KRTSANISI RAILWAY SECTION

On the orders of the Georgian government, privately owned land plots, needed for construction of Marabda-Akhalkalaki-Krtsanisi section of Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, will be bought out. Reserve fund of the government will allot necessary sum for the Ministry of Economic Development.

* business

INVESTBANK FINISHED 2009 WITH LOSS OF 5.45M LARI

According to the Investbank’s report for 2009, its loss made up 5.45 million lari. In 2008, the bank reported profit of 481,698 lari.

LICENSE FOR DETRITUS EXTRACTION IN TSALKA DISTRICT SOLD 45.5 TIMES HIGHER THAN INITIAL PRICE

According to the Economic Development Ministry, competition on auction, held today on mining licenses, was fixed on only 1 object among 9.

The matter concerns license for detritus extraction in Tsalka district, which was sold for price 45.5 times higher than initial one.

JSC SAKKALAKMSHENPROEKTI FINISHED 2009 WITH THE LOSS

According to the report of JSC Sakkalakmshenproekti (City-Building Project), loss of the company amounted to 2.26 million lari in 2009, increasing by 48% year-on-year.

Report indicates that the JSC was profitable in first years after privatization and even distributed dividends in 2001 and 2004, while it has losses since 2006.

LLC MOBITEL OFFERS NEW TARIFF PACK

Mobile operator Mobitel (Beeline trademark) reported that it started offer of new tariff pack to customers – Your Tariff.

Users of this pack may choose 3 favorite numbers, calls to which will cost them 0.02 lari per 1 min.

> For further information: Sarke