Daily News

IN THIS ISSUE:

Sakstat released estimation, according to which Georgia’s real GDP growth in 2018 made up 4.7%, while percentage change of deflator was 3.6%.

To compare, Sakstat’s February estimation said that real GDP growth in 2018 made up 4.8%.

Policy Institute of International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University (ISET-PI) released updated forecast, according to which Georgia’s GDP growth in the 1^st quarter will make up 4.3%, while increase in the 2^nd quarter to 4.6%.

“Based on January’s data, we expect annual growth in 2019 to be 4.4% in the worst-case or “no growth” scenario”, the Institute said, pointing that growth will be “5.5% in the best-case or “average long-term growth” scenario”.

Georgia’s Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze declared that opposition’s claim that “there is catastrophic situation in the country in terms of crime growth is not true”.

The Premier admitted that “growth of crime rate by 54%” was fixed in 2018, in comparison with 2017, however, attributed it to “accounting accuracy”.

Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maya Tskitishvili indicated that Anaklia Development Consortium planned launch of main works in Anaklia port on April 2.

However, detailed design is prepared so far by 60% only, no financing is attracted and, proceeding from this, “these terms, unfortunately, are insufficiently real”, the Minister pointed.

Georgia’s Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maya Tskitishvili declared that international financial institutions consider that the project of Anaklia port “lacks strategic investor, which will be able to attract permanent freights and, proceeding from this, they consider that it would be better, if securing of these risks will be undertaken by the state”.

The Minister declared this, while speaking in format of minister’s hour in the Parliament on March 21, and noted that after the government declared that guarantee on freights is unacceptable, banks (from which Anaklia Development Consortium, implementing the project, plans to attract funds) demanded to create the reserve account.

Korean Hyundai Samho Heavy Industries became supplier of cranes for Anaklia port. Respective contract between Anaklia Development Consortium and the company was signed on March 21.

The second stage of rural supporting program will last until April 1, Georgian Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure reported.

As the Ministry said, sakrebulos (local self-governments) have already considered and approved for this stage 3,038 projects for 1,985 villages, which total to 25.6 million lari.

Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development declared about postponement of public consideration of KheledulaHES project.

As Deputy Minister Natia Turnava said, “we refrained from opposition” and “decided to postpone public consideration”.