Daily News

IN THIS ISSUE:

According to economic freedom index-2014, published by Heritage Foundation and Wall Street Journal, Georgia ranks the 21^st among 178 countries. Since last year, Georgia’s score has improved by 0.4 points.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili met EBRD managing director for Turkey, Eastern Europe, Caucasus and Central Asia Olivier Descamps.

The meeting had introductory character, still scoping issues of relations’ deepening with Europe and attraction of European investments, press office of the Premier said.

Head of non-governmental organization Georgian Infrastructure Projects Initiative Levan Kalandadze declared that beneficiary of current inflationary processes in the country is the government, because it is “a brilliant way to cover the budget deficit”.

Artificially caused inflationary process is underway in Georgia, being caused by passivity of the government’s economic team and unmeasured expenditure of the budget, Kalandadze said at the meeting with journalists today.

Head of non-governmental organization Georgian Infrastructure Projects Initiative Levan Kalandadze declared that project on Jvari-Khorga power line construction is suspended.

EBRD has already allocated 77 million EUR for this power line construction, but the government blocks this project of national importance due to disapproval of environmental impact assessment report, Kalandadze declared at today’s meeting with journalists.

Tbilisi City Hall officially applied to City Council due to problems aroused because of non-approval of the city budget and asked to make rapid decision.

In situation of lack of approved budget, Tbilisi City Court is entitled to issue money for each priority in amount of no more than 1/12 of previous year’s assignments that will fail to provide full and timely funding of projects, envisaged in 2014 budget project, the City Hall stated.

Agriculture Ministry declared that this year’s program on assistance for land-poor farmers’ spring works starts from February 1. The program will be completed in August and its budget amounted to 90 million lari.

Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has issued an order, which changes purpose designation of 24 land sites from agriculture to non-agriculture. Total area of these sites makes up 14,535 square m.

National Intellectual Property Center Sakpatent starts implementation of IT incubator project.

During 6 months, 10 entities, selected through the competition, will work on creation of IT software, which will remain in their property, Sakpatent declared.

Sakartvelos Banki (Bank of Georgia) reported that Unimed, subsidiary of Aldagi BCI (subsidiary insurance company of the bank), has purchased 100% share of multi specialized 60-bed hospital in Tbilisi.

In 2013, income of the hospital made up 7.7 million lari, the bank noted.