News from Georgia courtesy of Sarke

TODAY:

- politics

* GEORGIA AND ISRAEL SIGNED AGREEMENT ON DOUBLE TAXATION AVOIDANCE

Georgian Economic Development Ministry reported that agreement on double taxation avoidance was signed with Israel on May 12. Document was signed in terms of 4-day visit of Minister Zurab Pololikashvili in Israel.

- economics

* COMPANY FOR FEASIBILITY STUDY OF GEORGIAN- AZERBAIJAN-RUMANIAN GAS TRANSIT PROJECT TO BE FOUNDED WITHIN A MONTH

According to Georgian Energy Ministry, on May 12 energy ministers of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Romania signed in Tbilisi a memorandum on joint company establishment in terms of project on liquefied gas transit. This company, which whould be established in Bucharest within 30 days, will provide feasibility study of the project, envisaging construction of liquefied natural gas plant and 2 terminals on Black Sea coast.

* REHABILITATION OF 7-KM ROAD SECTION IN MARTVILI DISTRICT IS UNDERWAY

Motor-Road Department reports that rehabilitation of 7-km road section of Napostari – Salkhino – Didi Chkoni in Martvili district (Samegrelo region) is underway. Currently, the works are held on one of the bridge.

- business

* TBILISI CITY HALL ANNOUNCED TENDER ON SPORTS GROUNDS’ CONSTRUCTION

Tbilisi City Hall has announced tender on sports grounds’ construction. The matter concerns multipurpose simple stadiums with artificial lawn.

* 70% OF JSC STANDARD INSURANCE GEORGIA’S ACTIVITIES ACCOUNTED FOR CAR INSURANCE

According to Zurab Gumberidze, director general of JSC Standard Insurance Georgia, 70% of premium, attracted in 2009, accounted for car-insurance. He noted that demand on car insurance increased by 300% in the 1st quarter of 2010 if compared to the whole 2009 (the company started operating in February 2009).

* LLC PHARMADEPOT TO OPEN 5TH DRUGSTORE IN TBILISI IN NEAR FUTURE

As LLC Pharmadepot (pharmaceutical company) declared to Sarke, the company will open its 5th drugstore in Vake district of Tbilisi in next few days. The company operates currently in Tbilisi only, where its chain numbers 4 drugstores (Sanapiro, Varketili, Gldani, Saburtalo).

* UGT TO EQUIP VTB BANK GEORGIA WITH DEVICES OF SCAN COIN

IT company UGT has signed an agreement with VTB Bank Georgia, undertaken to supply the bank with devices of Swedish Scan Coin. As opposed to equipment of Japanese Billcon, supplied in frameworks of previous contract (February 2009), these devices have coin sorting option besides currency counting.

* LLC AKHALI KSELEBI HAS TRANSFERRED ITS NUMERATION RESOURCE TO LLC AKHTELI

According to National Communication Commission, LLC Akhali Kselebi has transferred rights on using its numeration resource of 54XXXX to LLC Akhteli. The matter concerns 200 subscriber numbers in Tbilisi (546900-546999 and 548900-548999).

* LLC COMMUNICATION CONSULTING GROUP’S LICENSES TRANSFERRED TO LLC SKY SERVICE

National Communication Commission reported that LLC Communication Consulting Group has transferred rights on using its numeration resources to LLC Sky Service. The matter concerns license on 8-53 numeration resource, which covers the whole territory of the country.

* GEORGIAN PAVILION ON EXPO 2010 PRESENTS WINE OF JSC TELAVI WINE CELLAR

Tourism and Resort Department told Sarke that Georgian exposition on Shanghai’s Expo 2010 places focus on wine and vine. Namely, 18 names of JSC Telavi Wine Cellar’s wine are tasted in Georgian pavilion (324 square m).

* LLC BARAMBO STUDIES PROSPECTS OF ICE-CREAM MARKET ENTRY

Confectionery-producing LLC Barambo conducts ice-cream market research. However, the company stresses preliminary nature of the research, saying that any concrete steps should be made due to the results.

* LLC CARTU UNIVERSAL TO SELL DIABETIC ICE CREAM IN 10 DAYS

As LLC Cartu Universal declared to Sarke, the company would launch selling diabetic ice cream in 10 days. Diabetic ice cream will be sold in 0.5 kg packages, which will cost 4.50 lari in retail chain.

* BATUMI HOTEL INTURIST PALACE WAS NOT SOLD

Auction on enforced selling of hotel Inturist Palace’s property, re-announced by Ajara Executive Bureau, has been failed again. National Executive Bureau of Georgian Ministry of Justice told Sarke that no applications have been submitted for today’s auction.

For further information: Sarke