TODAY:

politics

FERRERO-WALDNER TO DISCUSS THE COOPERATION ISSUES AND AID TO REFUGEES

EU Delegation to Georgia reports that Benita Ferrero-Waldner, European Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighborhood Policy, will discuss the issues of strengthening cooperation with countries of South Caucasus in terms of the regional visit on January 19-22. Ferrero-Waldner has arrived in Georgia today.

GEORGIAN DELEGATION TAKES PART IN THE CONFERENCE OF MAGAZINE EUROMONEY

Georgian Economic Development Ministry reports that representatives of the governemnt and private sector will take part in the conference, organized by Euromoney magazine. The 14th conference is held on January 20-21 in Vienna (Austria).

GEORGIAN SIDE TO ATTEND NABUCCO SUMMIT

Press-service of the Georgian governemnt reports that Georgian Prime Minister Grigol Mgaloblishvili and Energy Minister Aleko Khetaguri will attend the Nabucco summit, which will be held on January 26-28 in Budapest (Hungary).

It should be mentioned that the Prime Minister should leave to Germany on January 21 for treatment.

economics

SAKAERONAVIGATSIA TO JOIN EUROCONTROL THIS YEAR

LLC Sakaeronavigatsia (Georgian Air Navigation) told Sarke that it plans to enter Eurocontrol in autumn 2009. LLC could not specify the membership fee.

GEORGIA TO RECEIVE 300M EUR FROM EBRD, $280M – FROM IFC

European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) reports that 300 million EUR will be allotted to Georgia in 2009.

Peter Schmidt, director of EBRD banking loans department, noted that credits will be mainly used to support the financial sector, infrastructure, transport, energy, small and middle-sized business.

MONEY TRANSFERS TO GEORGIA INCREASED BY 15.7%, FROM GEORGIA – REDUCED BY 24%

National Bank of Georgia (NBG) reports that total volume of money transfers to Georgia overpassed $1 billion in 2008, which exceeds previous year’s same figures ($866.16 million) by 15.7%.

The highest level of money transfers to Georgia was fixed in July and December 2008 ($97.4 million and $108.8 million, respectively), while the lowest – in January ($58.5 million), NBG notes.

TAX REVENUES FROM OIL PRODUCTS INCREASED BY 12%

Incomes service of Georgian Finance Ministry reports that 407.7 million lari is mobilized in the budget from the imported oil products in 2008, which exceeds previous year’s same figures by 12% (363 million lari).

Out of total, 212.2 million lari was received from the petrol import, which is more by 8% compared with 2007; 146 million lari – from diesel import (by 14% more).

PASSENGER FLIGHTS TO START TO LUXEMBURG

United Transport Administration of Georgia reports that it is planned to start passenger flights between Luxemburg and Georgia in the nearest future.

The Administration notes that a protocol on mutual intentions in air communication field, which envisages implementation of both cargo and passenger flights, was signed with Luxemburg.

DIRECT FLIGHTS BETWEEN GEORGIA AND LITHUANIA ARE NOT IMPLEMENTED NO MORE

United Transport Administration reports that air flights between Georgia and Lithuania are not implemented at this stage.

Georgian air companies do not fly to Lithuania, while FlyLAL – Lithuanian Airlines, which implemented flights from Vilnius to Tbilisi, ceased the activity.

GEORGIAN SIDE NEGOTIATES WITH TOKYO-MITSUBISHI UFJ BANK IN TERMS OF THE GRANT ALLOTTED BY JAPAN

Georgian Agriculture Minister Bakur Kvezereli announces that negotiations are held with the Japanese Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ bank in connection with the non-project grant of $13 million, allotted by Japan to Georgia. The bank, which should serve this grant, was selected by the Japanese government.

business

IN TERMS OF THE ISSUED CREDITS, EBRD AND IFC CAN ACQUIRE 5-5% SHARES OF SAKARTVELOS BANKI

Irakli Gilauri, director general of Sakartvelos Banki (Bank of Georgia), announced that European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and International Financial Corporation (IFC) can buy per 5% of the bank through the allotted sums.

To remind, EBRD and IFC allotted per $100 million to Sakartvelos Banki (the corresponding credit agreement was signed on December 30, 2008).

PRODUCTION OF CANARGO GEORGIA REDUCED

Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation informs that CanArgo Georgia extracted 20,562 t of oil in 2008, which is less by 4.4% compared with the same figures of 2007 (21,508 t). Reduction tendency was also fixed in 2007.

INTRODUCING OF HACCP COST NIKORA 26,400 EUR

Mako Jaoshvili, head of PR service of JSC Nikora (meat and dairy production), told Sarke that the company totally passed to HACCP (Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Points) system from January 2009, introducing of which cost the company 26,400 EUR. The sum includes consulting and training expenses as well as the sum paid in certification, she noted.

TWO BUILDINGS WITH LAND PLOTS WERE NOT SOLD IN BATUMI

Ajara Finance and Economy Ministry reports that two buildings with land plots in Batumi (Shavsheti Str. 15-19) were not sold at today’s auction.

For further information:

Sarke