Today news:

politics

NEW PRIME MINISTER SPEAKS ON STABILIZATION AND RECONSTRUCTION

New Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili announced, the government will develop 18-month program of stabilization and reconstruction, aiming to curb consequences of Russian invasion and impact of global crisis. That program will be a pre-condition for implementation of 50-month program of the government, Mgaloblishvili said, addressing the Parliament on November 1.

economics

GEORGIA TO GET THE FIRST TRANCHE OF DONORS’ AID BY THE END OF THE WEEK

By the end of the week, Georgia will get the first tranche of donors’ aid of $250 million. As Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili said after the meeting with donors, the funds will be provided by USAID.

GEORGIAN PRODUCTION, EXPORTED IN GSP+ REGIME, ACCOUNTED LAST YEAR FOR 10.3% OF THE TOTAL EXPORT

According to Georgian Economic Development Ministry, total cost of production exported to EU in GSP+ (EU’s extended Generalized System of Preferences) regime made up $127.5 million in the year 2007, accounting to 47.5% of Georgian export to EU and to 10.3% of total export of the country. Besides, previous year’s volume exceeds the rates of 2006 ($95.4 million) by 33.6%.

NEXT AUCTION ON MINING LICENSES BROUGHT 98,413 LARI IN THE BUDGET

Georgian Economic Development Ministry put up 11 mining licenses to auction today. Nine licenses (detritus extraction in Borjomi, Gardabani, Gori, Kaspi, Khobi, Martvili, Mtskheta, Oni, Tkibuli and Tsalka) were sold.

130 BRANCHES AND 560 SERVICE-CENTERS OF 21 BANKS OPERATED IN THE COUNTRY IN Q3

As National Bank of Georgia (NBG) reports, 21 banking institutions operated in the country by the state of September 30, 2008. In the beginning of the year, their number was 19.

business

3M LARI WAS SPENT FOR GARDABANI HEAT POWER PLANT REHABILITATION

As Georgian Energy Ministry informs, administration of state-owned JSC TbilGRES spent 3 million lari this year for rehabilitation of Gardabani heat power plant.

The 3rd and the 4th power units are on-load now, total capacity of which makes up 270 MW.

BUSES’ SUPPLIER FOR BATUMI REVEALED

As Ajara Finance and Economy Ministry informs, winners of the tender, held on October 1, were revealed these days. The tender was announced on buses delivery and maintenance for Batumi municipal transport company.

KAKHETI ENERGY DISTRIBUTION IS ANNOUNCED FOR THE SEVENTH TIME

Bankruptcy manager of JSC Kakheti Energy Distribution announced the seventh auction on JSC’s property. This time, starting price is $6 million instead of 16.7 million lari, fixed on the previous auction.

CAUCASUS ONLINE AND UNITED TELECOM REACHED AGREEMENT

Long litigation between LLC Caucasus Online (internet service provider, ISP) and JSC United Telecom of Georgia (fixed communications company) finished with agreement. As the United Telecom told Sarke, agreement entered into force from today, which envisages interests of both sides.

IRAO PROMOTES “GOLD” POLICY OF HEALTH INSURANCE

As insurance company Irao reports, “several tens of clients” already use new “Gold” policy of health insurance, offered to the corporate market on October 23. The company does not specify other details at this stage.

ONE RESIDENT PHYSICAL PERSON PURCHASED RICO EXPRESS’ PROMISSORY NOTE OF $40,000

Lasha Nikolaishvili, founder of LLC Rico Express (micro-finance organization), told Sarke that physical person, resident of Georgia, purchased gold promissory notes of $40,000 from the third tranche, placement of which started on October 29. According to Nikolaishvili, $85,000 promissory note will be sold to another physical person this week.

GEORGIAN GREENS PRODUCERS COMPLAIN OF TRANSPORTATION PROBLEMS

As company Kartuli Mtsvanili (Georgian Greenery) notes, such EU countries as Baltic States, Germany and Poland became interested with the Georgian greenery.

According to Georgian Economic Development Ministry, the first export of greenery was made to EU in terms of GSP+ (the EU’s extended generalized system of preferences) in 2007.

LAST WEEK REVIEW

privatization & investment

FOR THEY DO NOT KNOW WHAT THEY ARE DOING

It is known that power enterprises being natural monopolies are under constant rapt attention of the state that cares about its power security.

Georgian power system had not been fit to operate independently and for the past ten years of political independence the problem of natural gas and power supply has not been solved.

politics & society

THE WAR

The whole territory of Georgia, far beyond Tskhinvali region, is targeted by Russian aviation for bombardments. Vaziani near Tbilisi, Black Sea port of Poti, Senaki in Samegrelo region, Gori and others cities of Georgia are bombed.

Sarke