Internal Affairs Minister Gomelauri Meets with the French Ambassador

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POLITICS 919 new cases in Georgia, Internal Affairs Minister Gomelauri meets with the gov’t issues recommendations French Ambassador

FULL STORY ON Page 2 ECONOMICS

Enterprise Georgia wins WTPO Awards 2020

FULL STORY ON Page 3 The restaurants and entertainment facilities in Georgia’s capital Tbilisi, and in the western Imereti region will be banned from operating past 22:00.

By Natalia Kochiashvili PCR test, s/he will be able to use the quarantine space normally,” said Gakharia. eorgia reported a record 919 new The head of government called on both G cases of COVID-19 on October 15th, public and private institutions to shift bringing the tally of total confirmed cases employees to work remotely, if possible. to 14,440. In the meantime, 208 more “All the enterprises we support should patients have recovered, increasing the take this into account, and what hap- number of recoveries to 7,367. The num- pened recently in Poti, when up to 100 ber of active cases to mid October stands infected people were identified in one at 6,934. 4 more COVID-related fatalities organization (Adjara Textile) - is wrong. were recorded, taking the overall number We have to take care of the employees and of Georgia’s (excluding occupied territo- protect them by all means so that we can ries) COVID-related deaths to 113. protect ourselves,” Gakharia said. He also Out of the 919 patients diagnosed added that the possibility of rescheduling with COVID-19, the highest number – elections are not being discussed and they 366 – was confirmed in Tbilisi, while the will not be postponed. western Adjara region came in second According to the Minister of Health with 286 new cases. Ekaterine Tikaradze, the country bought As for the remaining new cases, According to the PM Gakharia, the coronavirus infection rate will exceed 1,000 in the coming days 3 times more vaccines in 2020 compared and the main strategy of the government will be point restrictions. 104 were diagnosed in Imereti; 21 in to what was planned to be purchased Shida Kartli; 44 in Kvemo Kartli; 11 in will be opened in Adjara on October 19th. flights to Munich and France will in- annually and there’s specific strategy for Mtskheta-Mtianeti; 13 in Guria; 57 in However, the online learning process crease. From November, flights to Europe using it in risk groups. Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti; 13 in Kakheti; remains in force there. The activities of will resume from both Tbilisi and Kutaisi Tikaradze also announced that 4 3 in Samtskhe-Javakheti, and 1 in Racha- restaurants and entertainment establish- airports. additional clinics in Tbilisi will be used Lechkhumi. ments are still limited from 22:00. According to the PM, the citizens who in the COVID-19 management process, Due to the growing number of coro- After the end of the government ses- enter Georgia will no longer have to go making 1200 inpatient beds available in navirus cases in the country, the govern- sion, it became known that the decision to through the mandatory 8-day quaran- Georgia’s capital. ment has decided to tighten restrictive start studying in higher education institu- tine, but they will have to remain in self- As of now, according to the minister, measures in Tbilisi and Imereti. In tions will not be reconsidered and the stu- isolation for 12 days. As Gakharia said there are under 4000 inpatient hospital particular, from 22:00 the work of res- dents will return to the auditoriums from after the government session, with this beds, and under 3900 inpatient hotel taurants and all entertainment establish- October 19th. However, higher education decision the government is trying to bring beds available nationwide for COVID-19 ments is restricted. The same measure institutions are recommended to study more dynamics to the economy. patients. has been in place in Adjara. remotely, but where it is not possible, “Once new flights are added, the “There are no plans to set up field Also, according to the decision of the studies will continue in auditoriums to scheme of their transfer to quarantine hospitals, the healthcare system is ready Government of Georgia, part of the re- conduct laboratory and practical training. areas will change. All citizens returning today to receive a growing number of strictions have been lifted due to the sta- The Prime Minister, Giorgi Gakharia, home and having a PCR test will be able infected people and to adequately treat bilization of the situation in Adjara, and announced the gradual restoration of air to move to self-isolation for 12 days and them,” said the PM. According to him, some will continue. In particular, public traffic from the end of October. Gakharia will no longer be placed in a quarantine there is no deficit in the healthcare system transport, including intercity transport, said that the frequency of the first stage area. And if the citizen does not have a in this regard. P2 | POLITICS FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 Internal Affairs Minister Gomelauri meets with the French Ambassador

VAKHTANG GOMELAURI AND FRENCH AMBASSADOR MEET TO DISCUSS STEPS TO FIGHT ORGANIZED CRIME AND ILLEGAL MIGRATION.

The meeting discussed the ongoing measures taken by the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia regarding the visa-free regime with the European Union.

By Anastasia Sokhadze Internal Security on his appoint- ment and wished him success in he Minister of Internal Af- his future endeavors. T fairs, Vakhtang Gomelauri At the meeting, the parties held a meeting with the Ambas- stressed the effective steps taken sador Extraordinary and Plenipo- in the fight against organized tentiary of the French Republic to crime and illegal migration. In Georgia, Diégo Colas. addition, the activities of Georgian According to the Ministry of police officers sent to the French Internal Affairs, the ambassador Republic were especially men- introduced Gomelauri to the new tioned. Gomelauri and the Am- French Attaché for Internal Se- bassador of France additionally curity, Herve Jamet, who started discussed the ongoing measures working in Georgia in September taken by the Ministry of Internal this year. The meeting was also Affairs of Georgia regarding the attended by the French Migration visa-free regime with the Euro- Liaison Officer, Amine Tartag. pean Union. Vakhtang Gomelauri congrat- Diégo Colas, Knight of the Na- ulated the new French Attaché of tional Order of Merit, held the post of Deputy Director of Legal Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs riday october F 16 before being appointed Ambassa- Day Sunny skies Diégo Colas introduces to the Minister of Internal Affairs a newly appointed internal security attache of France. dor of France to Georgia in 2016. High: 25°C Night Mostly clear Low: 12°C Nino Metreveli Sarurday october 17 Commercial Director Mariam Mchedlidze Day Mainly sunny Editor-in-Chief Natalia Kochiashvili High: 26°C Executive Editor Nino Kavelashvili Night mostly clear Design and Layout Low: 12°C FRIDAY, OCTOBER 16, 2020 ECONOMICS | P3

ITC announced the winners of the WTPO Awards 2020 on 14 October 2020 during an online Awards ceremony.

By Natalia Kochiashvili with Georgia. The main focus volved in the selection process said Mikheil Khidureli, direc- edly high number throughout of this year’s ceremony was on of the finalists and the winning tor of the Enterprise Georgia history. The WTPO Awards are nterprise Georgia was export-oriented development organizations. The event is agency. hosted by the United Nations E named World Trade Pro- initiatives. Enterprise Georgia monitored by leading companies The WTPO Awards is a pres- and the World Trade Organiza- motions (WTPO) Award for was one of 18 finalist agencies and public institutions. tigious, transnational competi- tion - International Trade Cen- Best Export Support Agency from countries such as Austria, “International recognition of tion created in 2004 to reveal ter. The agency aims to support at Awards 2020. At the cer- the Netherlands, Lithuania, this level is another success of the best among trade promotion the internationalization of small emony held on October 14th, Portugal and Sweden. Georgia, which will definitely organizations. This year, 60 and medium-sized businesses the awards were presented to International experts in the have a positive impact on the countries participated in the and actively cooperates with Sweden and Costa Rica along field of export and trade are in- country’s economic progress,” event, which is an unprecedent- government agencies on all continents. EU experts to discuss sustainable development in Alpine regions in Georgia

On 16 October, the EU will support an online expert mission on sustainable constructions and spatial planning in Alpine regions. The virtual mission will be carried out by two experts from Austria. The aim is to provide advice to the Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Devel- opment on how to integrate local cultural and natural heritage appropriately in Alpine resorts in Georgia. The EU experts will share best practice from modern ar- chitecture and sustainable in- frastructure projects in Alpine regions as well as from their professional experience. The workshop is organised by the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX) instrument of the European Com- mission in cooperation with the Georgian Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and Mountain Resorts Develop- ment Company.