Daily News March 16, 2023	Days:  14 15 16 17 20

politics

IN ECONOMIC FREEDOM INDEX OF “HERITAGE FOUNDATION”, GEORGIA’S POSITION AND SCORES DETERIORATED

In its Index of Economic Freedom 2023, the Heritage Foundation placed Georgia on the 35^th position among 176 countries. In the 2022 ranking, Georgia was 26^th among 177 countries.




IN UPDATED LIST, “TI GEORGIA” INDICATES 100 CASES OF POSSIBLE HIGH-LEVEL CORRUPTION IN GEORGIA

TI Georgia, Georgian branch of Transparency International, recently published an updated list, which indicates 100 possible cases of high-level corruption in Georgia.

These cases involve at least 123 high-ranking officials, including 13 judges, 18 MPs, 27 members of the government or their deputies, 31 municipal officials, TI Georgia reported.

economics

IN 2022, AVERAGE MONTHLY NUMBER OF DOMESTIC VISITORS IN GEORGIA DECREASED BY 3.3% Y-O-Y, THEIR AVERAGE MONTHLY EXPENSES INCREASED BY 9.8%

Sakstat reported that in 2022, the average monthly number of domestic visitors (Georgian residents aged 15 years and above) made up 1.2 million. If compared with 2021, the number has decreased by 3.3%.




“PMC” RESEARCH CENTER: FROM 2013-2014 ACADEMIC YEAR TO 2022-2023 ACADEMIC YEAR, AVERAGE ANNUAL GROWTH OF TUITION FEE FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS IN GEORGIA MAKES UP 39%

PMC Research Center reported that from academic year 2013-2014 to academic year 2022-2023, total amount of tuition fee, paid in Georgia by foreign students, increased from 14 million lari to 260 million lari. The average annual growth rate made up 39%, the organization pointed.




THIS YEAR, ACTIVITIES OF GEORGIAN ACCREDITATION CENTER ARE PLANNED TO FULLY TRANSFER TO DIGITAL MODE

Georgian Accreditation Center’s annual report for 2022 indicates that creation of an electronic program, aiming effective provision of services, was completed in the reporting year.

For 2023, full transfer of the Accreditation Center’s activities to digital mode is planned, the report says.




IT IS PLANNED TO INSTALL SELF CHECK-IN AND LUGGAGE DROP-OFF SYSTEMS AT KUTAISI AIRPORT

I think that in the coming months, we will install Self Check-In and Luggage Drop-Off systems in Kutaisi airport, said Irakli Karkashadze, director of Georgian Airports Association (state-owned LLC, which runs the airport).

Negotiations on equipping Georgia’s airports with modern technologies were held in Amsterdam, within the framework of the “Passenger Terminal Expo 2023”.




FACT OF POLLUTION OF THE BLACK SEA IS DETECTED

A vessel under the flag of Vanuatu polluted the sea with oil-contaminated water, reported the Environmental Supervision Department of Georgian Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.

Poti city court adjudged the vessel guilty in violation and imposed a fine of 65,000 lari.

business

“AEGEAN AIRLINES” AND “AIR MOLDOVA” ADD NEW DESTINATIONS TO THEIR GEORGIAN OPERATIONS

In the summer navigation season, the Greek flag carrier Aegean Airlines will start regular flights between Thessaloniki and Tbilisi, the Georgian Civil Aviation Agency reported. Flights will be operated from May 22 to October 5, on Tuesdays and Fridays.