AS OF JUNE 30, DEBIT CARDS DECREASED IN NUMBER BY 4.2% Y-O-Y, WHILE CREDIT CARDS – BY 4.8%

National Bank of Georgia reported that about 6.45 million banking debit cards were in circulation in the country as of June 30. If compared with the same period of 2018, the number reduced by 4.2%. More...

IN Q2, DOMESTIC TRANSACTIONS BY RESIDENT ISSUERS’ PLASTIC CARDS INCREASED IN VOLUME BY 18.6% Y-O-Y

National Bank of Georgia reported that domestic transactions by plastic cards, issued by resident issuers, totaled in the 2^nd quarter to 6.38 billion lari. If compared with the 1^st quarter of this year, the volume has increased by 14.6%. More...

IN Q2, FOREIGN TRANSACTIONS BY RESIDENT ISSUERS’ PLASTIC CARDS INCREASED BY 30.8% Y-O-Y

National Bank of Georgia reported that foreign transactions by plastic cards, issued by resident issuers, totaled in the 2^nd quarter to equivalent of 549.71 million lari. If compared with the 1^st quarter of this year, the volume has increased by 15.4%. More...

CIVIL ORGANIZATIONS ON CASE OF “RUSTAVI-2”: NEW REALITY, WHICH AROSE AFTER EUROPEAN COURT DECISION, THREATENS TO PLURALISTIC MEDIA ENVIRONMENT

The new reality, which arose after decision of the European Court of Human Rights on case of Rustavi-2 TV company, “is a big challenge for fragile Georgian democracy and creates serious danger to pluralistic media environment”, Georgian civil organizations say in the statement, released today.

“There are no doubts that change of owner of Rustavi-2 was within interest of the authorities, being openly declared by then more than once”, the organizations indicate. More...

CIVIL AVIATION AGENCY: IATA WILL ASSIST TO GEORGIAN SIDE IN WORKING OUT OF NATIONAL STRATEGY ON AIRSPACE DEVELOPMENT

Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development reported about the meeting, held in Tbilisi between representatives of Civil Aviation Agency, Sakaeronavigatsia (Georgian Air Navigation) and delegation of the International Air Transport Association (IATA).

As the Ministry said, representatives of IATA offered assistance to Georgian side in development of National Airspace Strategy. More...

IN Q1, MEDICAL INSURANCE ACCOUNTED FOR 54.1% OF PORTFOLIO OF “GEORGIAN INSURANCE GROUP”

Georgian State Service for Insurance Supervision reported that in total premium, attracted by Georgian Insurance Group as of March 31, medical (health) insurance accounted for 54.1%. In this segment, the company attracted 2.83 million lari, decreasing the volume by 26.7% year-on-year. More...

IN Q1, MEDICAL INSURANCE ACCOUNTED FOR 39.5% OF PORTFOLIO OF “EUROINS GEORGIA”

Georgian State Service for Insurance Supervision reported that in total premium, attracted by Euroins Georgia as of March 31, medical (health) insurance accounted for 39.5%. In this segment, the company attracted 1.28 million lari, decreasing the volume by 22.6% year-on-year. More...

IN Q1, LAND TRANSPORT INSURANCE ACCOUNTED FOR 30.9% OF PORTFOLIO OF “CARTU”

Georgian State Service for Insurance Supervision reported that in total premium, attracted by Cartu as of March 31, insurance of land transport (except railway) accounted for 30.9%. In this segment, the company attracted 932,440 lari, increasing the volume by 1,235% year-on-year. More...

NEW HOTEL IS BUILT IN SAGAREJO MUNICIPALITY

Georgian Economy and Sustainable Development Ministry’s Agency Produce in Georgia reported that new hotel, Chateau Khashmi, will be opened on July 20 in the village of Khashmi (Sagarejo municipality of Kakheti region).

According to the Agency, investments in the 11-room hotel amounted to 1.65 million lari. More...

Forbes Georgia: “PROFITABLE SECTORS FOR BANKS”

In 2018, Georgian banks received up to 3.38 billion lari as interest income, the magazine reports. Of that, retail crediting accounted for 1.9 billion, or 56%. More...

Forbes Georgia: “IN BANKING SECTOR, ABOUT 25,000 PEOPLE ARE EMPLOYED”

At the end of 2018, Georgian banking sector employed 24,998 people, the magazine reports with reference to National Bank of Georgia. If compared with 2017, the staff size has increased by 145 persons. More...

Bankebi da Finansebi: “I WILL DISPUTE ABOUT THE CONTRACT AND IN SEVERAL MONTHS OR IN A YEAR, I WILL WIN 5 MILLION, WHICH WILL INVEST IN NEW TELEVISION”

Nika Gvaramia, former director general of Rustavi-2 TV company, declares that he plans to launch a lawsuit because of terminated labor contract.

“Let it will be several months, a year or a year and a half, but sometime, I will win 5 million and will invest them in new television”, Gvaramia declares. More...

Rezonansi: “TRAVEL BY SUBWAY AND YELLOW BUSES WILL COST 80 TETRI?”

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze declared that travel by municipal buses, subway and minibuses will be possible with single ticket. Introduction of this system is planned for summer 2021. More...

MONTHLY TOURISM UPDATE (MAY 2019)

- In May 2019, compared to May 2018, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 3.4%, this was mainly due to the prices of guesthouses. In Georgia, in May 2019, compared to May 2018, the prices of 3-, 4-, 5-star hotels decreased by 2.5%, while the prices of guesthouses increased by 15.9%. More...