TODAY:

politics

DAMAGES TO THE ENVIRONMENT AS A RESULT OF RUSSIAN AGGRESSION MADE UP $1B

Damage, made to the environment as a result of Russian aggression, reaches $1 billion, announced Georgian Environment Protection and Natural Resources Minister Goga Khachidze after today’s government meeting. These are the calculations made by Georgian scientists and experts.

FOR JUST GEORGIA NAMES THE PROMISES OF THE AUTHORITIES UNREAL

Leader of the movement For Just Georgia Zurab Nogaideli considers that social promise of the Georgian president on increasing of the pensions up to $100 in 2009 is unreal.

“As a result of unexpected actions of the authorities, social background worsened”, announced today Nogaideli, who was finance minister and prime minister some time ago.

economics

EXTRACTION OF OIL REDUCED BY 7% IN 2008

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation reports that volume of crude oil, extracted in Georgia in 2008, made up 52,800 t, which is less by 7% compared with 2007.

Corporation explains reduction with filling of the oil wells with water.

NEARLY 35M LARI TO BE ALLOTTED FOR REHABILITATION OF MELIORATION SYSTEMS IN 2009

Nearly 35 million lari will be allotted for rehabilitation of amelioration systems in 2009, announced Georgian Agriculture Minister Bakur Kvezereli after today’s government meeting. This process will be finished current year.

PLACEMENT OF DEPOSIT CERTIFICATES REDUCED IN 2008

National Bank of Georgia (NBG) announces that volume of deposit certificates placed as a result of auctions in 2008 made up 1.84 billion lari (in nominal), which is 1.6 times less compared with 2007 (2.97 billion lari). 112 auctions were held in total in 2008 instead of 345 in 2007.

business

HINDUS TO INVEST $150M IN OIL PROSPECTING AND EXTRACTION IN GEORGIA

Jindal Steel & Power Limited, consortium of Indian companies, will invest $150 million during 4 years in prospecting and extraction of oil.

Such a declaration was made today while 25-year agreement on production share distribution was signed with investors.

RECEIVING OF APPLICATIONS ON “GOLDEN LIST” ENTERING STARTED

Finance Ministry informs that receiving of applications from organizations, which want to enter the so-called “golden list”, started.

As Finance Ministry told Sarke, the applicants should have high rate of tax deductions, not less than 1.8 million lari, or not less than 100 declarations in free turnover regime.

LLC MOBITEL HAS 370,000 CLIENTS

According to the latest data of LLC Mobitel (the mobile communications operator, Beeline brand), number of the company’s clients made up 370,000. To remind, LLC has been operating in Georgia since March 2007.

LLC GEORGIAN STOCK COMPANY WAS NOT SOLD

Auction on selling 100% share of LLC Georgian Stock Company, planned to be held today, failed.

VTB Bank Georgia, single owner of the LLC, told Sarke that auction failed because of applications absence.

JSC SAKTSKALPROEKTI FIXED BETTER TRADES OF SHARES IN 2008

Georgian Stock Exchange reports that cost of deals, made on JSC Saktskalproekti (Georgian Water Project) shares in 2008, totaled to 201,475 lari, which exceeds previous year’s same figures (37,228 lari) 5.6 times.

Turnover in 2008 amounted to 20,111 shares instead of 6,310 shares in 2007.

JSC KAZBEGI STOCK RATES DECLINED

Georgian Stock Exchange reports that cost of deals, made on JSC Kazbegi shares made up 19,864 lari in 2008, which is 10.7 times less compared with the previous year (212,192 lari).

In 2008, turnover made up 2,483 shares instead of 19,113 shares in 2007.

DEALS OF 85,602 LARI WERE MADE ON JSC CAUCASUS ENERGY & AMP; INFRASTRUCTURE SHARES IN 2008

According to the report of Georgian Stock Exchange, cost of deals, made on JSC Caucasus Energy&Infrastructure shares in 2008, amounted to 85,602 lari.

Turnover made up 52,328 shares.

RECEIVING OF TENDER APPLICATIONS ON REHABILITATION OF ROADS OF THE INTERNATIONAL IMPORTANCE LASTS

Georgian Motor Roads Department continues receiving of tenders applications for rehabilitation works on the roads of the international importance.

Applications on three tenders will be received through January 21, while the applications on the other three tenders will be received through February 3.

OXFORD POLICY MANAGEMENT AND GEORGIAN PMC GROUP CREATED A CONSORTIUM

Georgian company Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMC) announced that it has created a consortium with British consulting company Oxford Policy Management (OPM) on implementation of EU project.

The project is connected with “Technical Assistance for Further Development of a National Health Promotion Strategy and a Prioritized National Health Promotion Action Plan”.

For further information:

Sarke