TODAY:

economics

GEORGIA’S TRADE WITH BELGIUM REDUCED IN 2008

Georgian Statistics Department reports that trade turnover with Belgium amounted to $53.3 million in 2008, which is less by 17.3% compared with the same rates of 2007. Import of motor cars accounted for the greatest share, volume of which made up $7.1 million (31.5% reduction).

10 GEORGIAN COMPANIES TAKE PART IN THE JAPANESE EXHIBITION FOODEX JAPAN 2009

10 Georgian companies, representing such fields as wine, nuts, etc., took part in FoodEx Japan 2009. The international food industry exhibition, started in Tokyo on March 3, has ended on March 6.

ACTUAL TOPIC: “CHEAP LOAN” PROGRAM

Georgian government has been implementing the “Cheap Loan” program for the second year already. David Narmania, executive director of Caucasus Institute for Economic and Social Studies, assesses the efficiency of the program.

REGISTRATION OF TWO-SYMBOL DOMAIN IN .GE ZONE IS POSSIBLE

Registration of two-symbol domain names will be possible in .ge zone from March 21. Ia Peradze, administrator of .ge domain, notes that such registration was impossible until now.

business

GEORGIAN CARD HAS 6 PARTNER BANKS

Georgian Card (processing center of local plastic cards) reports that the company has 6 partner banks now. They are Sakartvelos Banki (Bank of Georgia), KOR Standard Bank, Republic, BTA Georgia, HSBC Georgia and First British Bank.

REHABILITATION OF POTI PORT BERTHS TO BE COMPLETED BY THE END OF THE YEAR

As press-service of LLC Poti Sea Port told Sarke, rehabilitation of the port’s berths should be completed by the end of 2009. Rehabilitation of 1st and 2nd berths was finished these days and the process will involve other berths gradually, the press-service said.

VTEL GEORGIA ACQUIRED NUMERATION RESOURCE LICENSE IN BATUMI

Georgian Communications Commission reports that LLC VTEL Georgia acquired licenses for use 2,000 numbers of 60XXX and 61XXX indices in Batumi. The company will pay 4,200 lari for the license, which starting price was 4,000 lari.

GEOCELL OFFERS TARIFF FOR WOMEN

Mobile communications operator Geocell announced a new tariff, especially designed for women – Gogonebi (Girls). The tariff enables subscribers to get on the next day twice more free minutes, while calling on Geocell numbers.

56.5% OF JSC TBILLITONNATSARMI SHARES ARE AUCTIONED

Georgian Economic Development Ministry brought to auction state-owned stake of 56.5% of JSC Tbillitonnatsarmi (Tbilisi Steel Production). Starting price of 160,064 shares with nominal value of $1 makes up $600,000.

LARGE LAND PLOTS WERE NOT SOLD ON ELIA MOUNTAIN IN TBILISI

Auction, announced by Tbilisi City Hall on large land plots on the Elia Mountain in Tbilisi (near monasterial complex), failed these days because of applications absence. The lands were auctioned in 12 lots.

GEORGIAN FOREIGN INTELLIGENCE SERVICE ANNOUNCED A TENDER ON STAFF INSURANCE

Georgian foreign intelligence service announced a tender on health insurance to its officers and their families (spouses and under-age children). The tender, which consists of 2 lots, will be held on March 26.

LLC NARINJI REDUCED PRODUCTION VOLUME IN 2008

LLC Narinji has managed to process only 500 t of mandarins in 2008, which is less by 65% compared with the year 2007, the company told Sarke. Merab Turmanidze, commercial director of the LLC’, explained reduction by limited load of company’s plant in Ajara.

society

INTERNATIONAL AND GEORGIAN ORGANIZATIONS UNITE TO SPREAD CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY PRINCIPLES

12 organizations agreed today to assist introducing of corporate social responsibility principles and practice. These organizations will sign the letter of intent on March 9.

For further information:

Sarke