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Bakhtadze Announces New Promises for Education Reform Continued from Page 1 Georgia As a Hub of Education and Sci- PISA Report from 2015

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Bakhtadze Announces New Promises for Education Reform Continued from Page 1 Georgia As a Hub of Education and Sci- PISA Report from 2015 Issue no: 1135 • MARCH 22 - 25, 2019 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... The Latest News on the 'Georgia - Homeland of Wine' Project NEWS PAGE 3 Kazakh Leader Goes, But His Legacy Remains POLITICS PAGE 4 FOCUS Parliament Approves ON THE SHEPHERD CASE Draft Law on Selection Extradition looms and we of Judges speak to both sides of the case PAGE 4 POLITICS PAGE 5 Image source: skynews.com Steady Number of Students from Georgia at Bakhtadze Announces New UK Universities SOCIETY PAGE 8 Promises for Education Reform Welcome to Georgia – The Almost immediately, the Prime Minister instituted a major reform of the education sector. “We plan to implement a 5-level reform that involves Musical, One Year On the integration of preschool education, school education, vocational education, higher education and science, the introduction of innovative CULTURE PAGE 9 education systems, and more importantly, the deepening of close ties between education and economics,” Bakhtadze announced when appoint- ing Batiashvili. In Tuesday’s interview, Bakhtadze further discussed the now-ongo- ing reforms. He announced a focus on modernization and technology, saying that new modern kindergartens and fully-technologically equipped schools will be built “in every village, town, and city of the country.” Continued on page 3 Image source: Press Offi ce of the Prime Minister BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE eorgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze was interviewed Interpreter & Swedish this week by national news network Imedi TV. He spoke about the country’s education system and future plans for Film Critic Brings Photo its development and reform. Since coming to power, Bakhtadze has had a particular Chronicle of Tarkovsky’s Gfocus on education, consolidating the Ministry of Education and Science with the Ministry of Youth and Sport, appointing Mikheil Batiashvili as head of the newly formed Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Last Film to Tbilisi Sport in July of last year. CULTURE PAGE 11 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS MARCH 22 - 25, 2019 Gomarduli Ski Resort Project to be Revived duli resort, as the government began BY SAMANTHA GUTHRIE restoring the access road to the resort, and that they were working with the national Economic Council to get the evelopers began working taxes waived and the property returned on Gomarduli Ski Resort to the developers. While the Economic in mountainous Ajara in Council was sympathetic to their demands 2011. Soon after develop- and recommended the Revenue Service ment began, featuring sev- lift the taxes and punishment imposed Deral guesthouses and a restaurant, the on Gomarduli, the property was not Revenue Service of Georgia seized the offi cially returned to the company until property for non-payment of taxes. In earlier this year. 2014, resort director Jemal Darchidze Approximately a two-hour drive from reported that the tax they had failed to Batumi, and a seven-and-a-half-hour trek pay, in the amount of 126,000 GEL ($47,014), from Tbilisi, the resort is expected to be was not included in the original deal popular among people from western between Darchidze’s joint-stock company Georgian and visitors from Turkey. It will “Gomarduli” and the Georgian govern- compete with Goderdzi, another small ment, who sold the 52 acres of land to the ski resort in the Ajara Autonomous Repub- company for a symbolic price of 1 GEL. lic, located approximately three hours Darchidze insisted that the deal, made from Batumi, and Bakhmaro, a four-sea- with then-President Mikheil Saakashvili, son playground that offers backcountry promised that the company would be cat skiing in endless powder, but little exempt from taxes for a 15-year period. infrastructure. Bakhmaro is located 2 Image source: Adjara Tour In 2012, however, after just one season hours and 45 minutes from Batumi, fur- GEL ($559,000) in taxes, fees, and fi nes and restaurants, which can currently sequestration on the property of Gomar- of operation, the courts disagreed, say- ther north in the region of Guria. It is not was written off from the company and cater to up to 60 visitors, will be several duli. At a press conference, Rizhvadze ing that Gomarduli was responsible for yet clear what sort of ski infrastructure the property seizure was reversed. The cottages, a stadium, and an extreme expressed his vision for the resort, as a the taxes and seizing the resort’s prop- the Gomarduli developers plan to con- Government of Ajara now holds a 10% sports’ park. The renovation work and boon to the local community, helping to erty for non-payment. struct in the newly reopened resort. stake in the company Gomarduli. new infrastructure is expected to cost develop local infrastructure and a more In early 2017, there were rumors in the Darchidze told the news website Com- The company plans to implement a 300,000 GEL ($111,940). stable local economy. To commemorate media that the Ministry of Finance and mersant that in January, by the Prime three-year development strategy to be In late January, Ajara Chairman Tornike the announcement, a small celebratory Economy of the Ajara Autonomous Minister’s resolution and with the sup- able to host up to 1,000 visitors by 2022. Rizhvadze offi cially announced that the festival was held, attended by company Republic had plans to develop the Gomar- port of Government of Ajara, 1.5 million Adding to the existing fi ve guesthouses decision had been made to remove the representatives and locals. PM Bakhtadze: Georgia, Belarus Have Preconditions to Double Trade two countries,” the PM added. in line with which joint ventures will be BY THEA MORRISON He also highlighted that such exposi- incorporated in Georgia," the PM said. tions and business forums should ensure Before opening the fair, Bakhtadze and the infl ow of additional foreign direct Rusy had a face-to-face meeting. The he Prime Minister of Geor- investments (FDI) in Georgia. sides discussed a number of issues, gia, Mamuka Bakhtadze, “I am confi dent that the economic coop- including prospects for developing ferry stated that there exist all eration which will be nurtured between traffi c between the countries through the necessary preconditions Georgia and Belarus in the coming years, Ukraine, opening a joint venture that to double trade turnover is bound to create many jobs both in will produce elevators and tractors, and Tbetween Georgia and Belarus. Belarus and Georgia,” he said. to deepen cooperation in transport. Bakhtadze made the statement at the In parallel with the fair, Tbilisi hosted A working group of Georgian and Bela- opening of Made in Belarus fair in Tbi- a Georgian-Belorussian Business Forum rusian specialists will create a plan to lisi on Wednesday. The PM opened the which engaged almost 150 Belorussian improve logistical issues in two months fair together with the Deputy Prime companies. that will facilitate the growth of trade Minister of Belarus, Mikhail Rusy, and In the format of the Georgian-Belarus between the countries. noted that the fair of Belorussian prod- Business Council, 14 Georgian and 14 Rusyi also said that Belarus is ready to ucts gives an excellent opportunity not Belorussian companies signed agreements participate in tenders announced for only for establishing business contacts to a total value of $2,806,780. Agreements providing new buses to Tbilisi and between Georgian and Belorussian enter- between the parties were signed on large Batumi. prises, but also for Georgian consumers. agricultural machinery, elevators, export He added that a group will be created “I am thrilled that bilateral trade is of Georgian tea and supply of medicines. in the capital of Belarus, Minsk, which increasing. We have agreed today that Agreements were also signed in the fi eld will work to open a store selling Geor- this is not a maximum benchmark and of scientifi c cooperation. gian products in the city. In 2018, trade we have all the preconditions to at least "I am delighted that we are signing turnover between Georgia and Belarus double the trade volumes between the Image source: PM’s Press Offi ce signifi cant trade contracts with Belarus, amounted to $87.10 million. SUBSCRIBE! 1 YEAR SUBSCRIPTION - 60 GEL (6 ISSUES) Money Back Guarantee! [email protected] +995 32 229 59 19 Tel: (995 32) 2 45 08 08 10 Galaktion Street E-mail: [email protected] GEORGIA TODAY MARCH 22 - 25, 2019 NEWS 3 The Latest News on the 'Georgia - Homeland of Wine' Project maladze, along with the management of partner companies, Sony Communica- tions and Terrada Republic, held a press conference at the TMMT Hall exhibition center, which brought together the rep- resentatives of more than 60 local media sources. A Georgian folk song was per- formed by the State Ensemble of Geor- gian Folk Singing, Basiani, and broadcast on Japanese Radio ‘Ottava’,” the National Wine Agency told us. There are multiple important and fas- cinating events set to be carried out within the scope of the project, which will contribute to the popularization of Georgian wine and gastronomy, as well as goods of local production. THE SCHEDULE FOR UPCOMING EVENTS IS PRESENTED BELOW: April 3 – Renowned British journalist, country, with its interesting and eclectic wine writer and columnist of Decanter BY KETEVAN KVARATSKHELIYA history and culture, to the Japanese public magazine Andrew Jefford will give a and thousands of other travelers. ‘Georgia lecture-seminar on wine production and – Homeland of Wine’ also aims to obtain its uniqueness at the TMMT Hall, which eorgia is currently success- fruitful outcomes in the economic sector, will be attended by experts in the fi eld. fully presenting its wines as it allows Georgian wine enterprises to April 11 – The Georgian National Tour- to a wide audience in one augment their sales locally, as well as abroad.
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