Economic Press Monitor November 15 - 21, 2020	Days:  07 14 21 28 05

economic & politics

NETGAZETI.GE: “THE GOVERNMENT CONSIDERS RESTRICTIONS IN TRANSPORT AND SHOPPING CENTERS – IMMUNOLOGIST KULUMBEGOV”

November 20, 2020 - Allergist-immunologist Bidzina Kulumbegov confirms that introduction from the next week of restrictions in operation of public transport and shopping facilities is under consideration. He took part in meetings with Georgian Prime Minister concerning epidemiological situation in the country.




TABULA: “US STATE DEPARTMENT: WE SUPPORT FIGHT OF OPPOSITION IN PARLIAMENT, BUT NOT BOYCOTT”

November 19, 2020 - “We support fight of opposition for changes from within the Parliament, but not boycott again”, declare US State Department’s officials concerning Georgia.

“You were elected by your supporters in order that you were in the Parliament”, the officials address Georgian opposition parties (who refuse to recognize as legitimate results of October 31 parliamentary elections and carry out protest actions).




TABULA: “IMNADZE: WE CANNOT ANNOUNCE LOCKDOWN, OUR ECONOMY WILL NOT SUSTAIN THIS”

November 18, 2020 - Paata Imnadze, deputy director of Georgian National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, declared that “those restrictions, which are imposed in the country, are already insufficient in this situation”. Suppression of COVID-19 spread requires “introduction of bigger number of pointed restrictions in the country”, he notes.

macroeconomics & budget

REZONANSI: “POLICY OF WEAK LARI IS NOT PAYING AND UNDERMINES BUSINESS”

November 19, 2020 - Lasha Papashvili, owner of Redix Group, considers that policy of National Bank of Georgia to sell currency reserves is inefficient. That “is confirmed by conditions of small and medium business, which is in a difficult situation today”, he indicates.




TABULA: “BUDGET OF UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE IS EXHAUSTED AHEAD OF SCHEDULE FOR THE SEVENTH TIME, 95M TO BE ADDED TO THE PROGRAM”

November 19, 2020 - Treasury Service of Georgian Finance Ministry reported that universal healthcare state program’s budget of 802 million lari is exhausted. Until end of the year, 95 million lari will be additionally allocated to the program, Tabula says.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “RESTAURANT BUSINESS IS ON THE VERGE OF BANKRUPTCY – REPRESENTATIVES OF THE SECTOR DEMAND URGENT ASSISTANCE FROM THE STATE”

November 17, 2020 - Since November 4, restaurants in scales of Georgia are obliged to work only up to 22:00. Because of the situation, created in connection with COVID-19 spread, part of food objects is closed, while part cuts staff, the newspaper says.

energy, oil & gas

REZONANSI: “WHETHER GEORGIA WILL RECEIVE CONSIDERABLE BENEFIT FROM TRANS ADRIATIC GAS PIPELINE?”

November 17, 2020 - Trans Adriatic Pipeline, by which Azerbaijani gas will be delivered via Georgia to Europe, after 4 years of construction, was put in operation, the newspaper points.

As the article indicates, opinions of Georgian power engineering specialists concerning Georgia’s benefit from enactment of this project have divided.

companies

TABULA: “CORONAVIRUS IS CONFIRMED AT 144 EMPLOYEES OF “SAKNAKHSHIRI” – THE COMPANY SUSPENDED WORK FOR 2 WEEKS”

November 17, 2020 - Company Saknakhshiri (Georgian Coal) reported that COVID-19 test was made to 1,170 employees, results of 1,114 tests are known, including 144 positive. The company suspended work for 2 weeks.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “IN BATUMI, FOUNDATION IS LAID FOR CONSTRUCTION OF GEORGIAN-AMERICAN ACADEMY”

November 17, 2020 - In Batumi, foundation is laid for construction of Georgian-American academy, the newspaper reports. The project will be implemented by school Progress and LLC Anagi Education.

transport & communications

TABULA: “RESTORATION OF REGULAR FLIGHTS IS POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 – PROHIBITION STILL DOES NOT CONCERN 14 DIRECTIONS”

November 20, 2020 - Georgian Civil Aviation Agency notified airlines that prohibition on regular flights to Georgia is prolonged until January 1, 2021. Like in November, restrictions do not concern 14 directions.




FORBES GEORGIA: “HOW DEMAND FOR TELECOM PRODUCTS CHANGED AND WHAT NOVELTIES ARE EXPECTED IN NEAR FUTURE”

November 20, 2020 - Lasha Tabidze, director on business operations of VEON Georgia (mobile operator of Beeline brand), indicates that since the beginning of 2020, income was characterized by growth. However, because of impact of COVID-19, growth in the 1^st quarter not only slowed down, but income decreased in comparison with indicator of 2019, he told the magazine.

ecology & health

TABULA: “THE GOVERNMENT WILL PROCURE IN ACCELERATED MODE OXYGEN GENERATORS OF 3.2M LARI”

November 18, 2020 - Georgian government will buy through simplified tender medical oxygen generators worth 3.2 million lari, Tabula reports. Medical oxygen is used upon treatment of COVID-19.




REZONANSI: “IN WHAT CASE PLAN “B” WILL BE ENACTED IN GEORGIA”

November 16, 2020 - The newspaper reports that Georgian healthcare system mobilized 5,500 beds for treatment of COVID-19, and it is planned to increase bed fund up to 8,500.

In case this resource appears insufficiently, there is plan “B”, which means mobilization of field hospitals and large spaces, the article points.




TABULA: “GAMKRELIDZE: WE TRANSFERRED $4M IN ADVANCE FOR COVID-VACCINE FOR 700,000 PEOPLE”

November 16, 2020 - Amiran Gamkrelidze, director of Georgian National Center for Disease Control and Public Health, reported that $4 million were transferred in advance for acquisition of vaccine against COVID-19. Total cost makes up $16-17 million, he noted.

finances & banking

REZONANSI: “PROGRAM OF MORTGAGE LOANS’ SUBSIDIZING WILL NOT BE CONTINUED, THE BUDGET IS ALMOST EXHAUSTED”

November 20, 2020 - Alexander Dzneladze, head of Georgian Banks Association, said that within the state program of mortgage loans’ subsidizing, “activity, according to plan, presented in advance, is higher, than it was expected”. However, resource is not exhausted, and the program will proceed until end of the year, he assured.




FORBES GEORGIA: “CONTINUOUS PROCESS”

November 19, 2020 - Volume of factoring in Georgia amounted in 2019 to 137 million EUR, the magazine reports.

The article explains that main goal of this product is financing of current needs of the sellers’ working capital, which is connected with future receivables.




BANKEBI DA FINANSEBI: “INTEREST ON USE OF PENSION CREDIT COULD BE PROTESTED IN CONSTITUTIONAL COURT”

November 16, 2020 - Non-governmental organization Young Lawyers notes that pensioners can use during 57 months the pension credit, which maximum volume does not exceed the 9-fold amount of monthly payment. However, interest is too high, making up 30.69% a year, the organization specifies.

tourism

REZONANSI: “WINTER TOURIST SEASON COULD BE NOT HELD THIS YEAR AT ALL”

November 18, 2020 - In summer, when Georgia coped with COVID-19 in exemplary way, a tourist season nevertheless failed in big part, the newspaper says. Now, Georgia is one global leaders in terms of rate of new infected, respectively, a winter resort season can be not held at all, the article points.