Georgia, US Sign Agreements to Boost Economic Development
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facebook.com/ georgiatoday Issue no: 908/59 • DECEMBER 27 - 29, 2016 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... Georgian Leaders Congratulate Local Jews on Hanukkah NEWS PAGE 5 Kleptocrats Attack Ukraine’s Reform-Minded Central Banker PAGE 6 Georgian Foreign Ministry Hosts Meeting on US-Georgia FOCUS Strategic Partnership ON SKI RESORTS An unprecedented example of Public-Private-Partnership is witnessed in the opening of the new Mitarbi Ski Resort PAGE 2 PAGE 7 Christmas Concert Culminates Georgia, US Sign Agreements to Boost Economic another Year of Successful Growth at Confl ict Divide Development PAGE 8 BY THEA MORRISON Welcome to Georgia Wine Campaign he United States Agency for Inter- Kicks Off for the national Development (USAID) is to allocate USD 22 million for Holiday Season Georgia’s economic development. Georgia’s Finance Minister, Dim- PAGE 9 Titry Kumsishvili, and Director of USAID’s Cau- casus Mission, Douglas Ball, signed three agree- ments to that effect on Thursday. Bryza: Russia Will Use the Changes were made to previously signed agree- ments increasing the amount of a pre-existing Defi nition of Terrorism to grant to the current USD 22 million fi gure. governance, and a “stable, integrated and healthy” tors, as well as more effectively managing nat- The Finance Ministry reports that the agree- society. ural resources and creating market-oriented Advance its Own Political ments cover a number of high-priority areas, The activities planned within the agreements jobs. Increasing the societal integration of per- Interests including inclusive and sustainable economic will be aimed at introducing business standards sons with disabilities and of IDPs has also been growth, democratic controls and accountable and increasing competitiveness in various sec- fi ngered as a focus. POLITICS PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by Markets Asof23ͲDecͲ2016 STOCKS Price w/w m/m BONDS Price w/w m/m BankofGeorgia(BGEOLN) GBP29.59 Ͳ5,6% Ͳ4,2% GEOROG04/21 104.44(YTM5.58%) +0,4% +0,4% GHG(GHGLN) GBP3.55 Ͳ5,0% Ͳ1,5% GEORG04/21 109.65(YTM4.38%) +0,5% +1,3% TBCBankGroup(TBCGLN) GBP14.69 Ͳ4,9% +11,9% GRAIL07/22 106.88(YTM6.26%) Ͳ0,1% Ͳ0,9% BGEOLN07/23 100.19(YTM5.96%) Ͳ0,1% +0,3% COMMODITIES Price w/w m/m CrudeOil,Brent(US$/bbl) 55,16 Ͳ0,1% +12,7% CURRENCIES Price w/w m/m GoldSpot(US$/OZ) 1133,30 Ͳ0,1% Ͳ4,6% GEL/USD 2,7450 +1,1% +10,9% GEL/EUR 2,8580 +1,2% +9,4% INDICES Price w/w m/m GEL/GBP 3,3599 Ͳ0,5% +9,0% FTSE100 7068,17 +0,8% +3,7% GEL/CHF 2,6739 +1,5% +9,8% FTSE250 17909,59 +0,7% +1,6% GEL/RUB 0,0447 +1,8% +16,4% DAX 11449,93 +0,4% +7,4% GEL/TRY 0,7795 +0,1% +6,9% DOWJONES 19933,81 +0,5% +4,5% GEL/AZN 1,5198 Ͳ0,5% +7,7% NASDAQ 5462,69 +0,5% +1,5% GEL/AMD 0,0057 +1,8% +9,6% MSCIEMEE 142,37 Ͳ1,1% +8,4% GEL/UAH 0,1042 +1,3% +7,9% MSCIEM 841,60 Ͳ1,7% Ͳ1,7% EUR/USD 0,9564 Ͳ0,0% +0,9% SP500 2263,79 +0,3% +2,7% GBP/USD 0,8139 +1,6% +1,3% MICEX 2173,18 Ͳ2,6% +4,2% CHF/USD 1,0265 +0,0% +1,0% MSCIFM 2360,51 Ͳ1,1% Ͳ0,2% RUB/USD 61,3855 Ͳ1,1% Ͳ4,5% GTIndex(GEL) 1176,94 Ͳ +29,5% TRY/USD 3,5173 +0,3% +3,6% GTIndex(USD) 838,85 Ͳ3,7% +16,8% AZN/USD 1,8262 +2,3% +2,9% GEORGIA TODAY 10 BUSINESS DECEMBER 27 - 29, 2016 Singing Praises to Bulbuli Market ers of bio-products like cheese and honey. non-governmental organization ‘Caritas The producers keep the money earned Czech Republic in Georgia’. Marina from sales at the event. We plan to organ- Guzarauli, representative of the company, ize more events like this next spring and says this kind of festival is of vital impor- autumn,” Bukhaidze said. tance to Tushetian enterprisers. Among visitors was game designer “Our production is made in Tusheti extraordinaire and visual reality expert and is biologically cleaner than most the Mark Rein-Hagen, who has been living imported competition. This is our advan- in Georgia for the last nine years. Sur- tage. rounded with children, Rein-Hagen Right now our cooperative consists of loudly confessed his love for Georgia six persons and our family members are and also reminisced on how much Geor- also involved. We have greenhouses gia has developed during the years he where potatoes and vegetables are cul- has spent living here. “When I fi rst came, tivated and we were the fi rst to cultivate even buying a hamburger was a poten- cucumbers in Tusheti and sell them to tial problem,” he announced, lauding the local hotels,” Guzarauli said. the festival’s wide choice of fusion She added that raising awareness is dishes. “Events like these are best for key to the cooperative’s activities. People attracting tourists and it’s good these must understand the importance of con- people, small and medium scale enter- suming healthy products. prisers, are given a chance to show off “We want to increase the number of their products”. customers and this festival is the best One stall stood out from the rest- a opportunity, though it would be nice to “delegation” from one of Georgia’s most see such festivals occurring on a system- beautiful places, the mountainous Tush- atic basis and for us to have more options eti. The ‘Tusheti 2015’ cooperative pre- in terms of delivering our products. It sented endemic Tushetian honey, Guda also helps prevent Tushetian people from cheese, other dairy products, tea, pota- leaving the region – if there is profi t to toes, traditional spirits and other hand- be made, they’ll stay and continue pro- made items. The cooperative was created ducing their goods,” Guzarauli pointed in 2015 with the assistance of the Czech out. specialized for fi rst-time guests and BY VAZHA TAVBERIDZE & viewers. One emergent festival plans to TATIA AKHVLEDIANI change things for the better, though: the Bulbuli (Nightingale) Market, organized by Georgia’s Wine Tourism Association, ife is a breeze if you’re a Euro- was a resounding success when held for pean farmer. Well, maybe not the fi rst time in November, and then exactly a breeze, but you can during its comeback on Christmas Eve. at least sustain yourself and This time held at the Muza cultural your business and get enough center, it saw 75 companies from differ- Lopportunities to show off your product, ent regions of Georgia taking part, includ- which is key to success and further ing winemakers, farmers, cooks and expansion. artists. The festival was held in the form What we’re getting at are festivals – the of a Christmas Fair, where traditional all-important venue where you put out Georgian and European cuisine was that delicious cheese made according to presented, as well as wines, teas, sweets, grandma’s recipe, or that wine you’ve dairy products and handmade products. been trying to develop a bouquet for The public could taste and purchase the over the last two years, to see how peo- presented items, as well as take part in ple like it, and to see how others from various activities such as a raffl e, dances your fi eld have been doing. In Europe and children’s activities. those opportunities come aplenty – in One of the organizers, Elene Bukhaidze, Georgia not so much. It is a shame, really, says the aim of the event was to connect considering that Bazaar traditions in different people from various companies, Tbilisi and Georgia in general count as well as to open new perspectives for centuries. Sure, we have occasional them. cheese and wine festivals from time to “We try to help them get popular and time, but those are not as frequent as increase their sales. There are cafes and one would like and in most cases are too restaurants presented, as well as produc- RENT YOUR DREAM APARTMENT IN TSKNETI Very cosy one bedroom 75 sq.m apartment in Tbilisi area with spectacular view over the mountains. Located in Tskneti, a prestigious, quiet, green and safe neighborhood 15 minutes drive from the city center. The bright and sunny apartment is newly furnished and comes with a fully equipped kitchen and bathroom. Comfortable and stylish living-room, cozy bedroom with closet and king-sized bed. 20 sq.m terrace overlook- ing the mountains. Relax while enjoying the view and unwind with a glass of wine on the balcony as you watch the sun set. Parking & WiFi available. If you are looking for the perfect place to live, this is the apartment for you! Only long-term residents should apply. Ideally suited for a couple or single. For more information contact: + 995 595279997 GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 27 - 29, 2016 POLITICS 11 Bryza: Russia Will Use the Defi nition of Terrorism to Advance its Own Political Interests that’s over now. I think there will be a window of vulnerability when discouraging companies from investing in Azer- BY NANA SAJAIA, I don’t think Russia really cares about terrorism, the President tries to take advantage of what he baijan’s gas resources, because there will be so VOICE OF AMERICA GEORGIAN SERVICE but, of course, Russia will use the defi nition of ter- views as Donald Trump’s naiveté in calling another much Russian gas in the Turkish stream heading rorism to advance its own political interests.