DOCSLIB.ORG

World Bank Document

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
World Bank Document Document of The World Bank FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY Public Disclosure Authorized Report No: 66027-GE PROJECT APPRAISAL DOCUMENT ON A PROPOSED LOAN Public Disclosure Authorized IN THE AMOUNT OF US$60 MILLION TO GEORGIA FOR A REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT February 22, 2012 Public Disclosure Authorized Sustainable Development Department South Caucasus Country Department Europe and Central Asia Region This document has a restricted distribution and may be used by recipients only in the performance of their official duties. Its contents may not otherwise be disclosed without World Bank authorization. Public Disclosure Authorized CURRENCY EQUIVALENTS (Exchange Rate Effective February 22, 2012) Currency Unit = GEL GEL1.66 = US$1 FISCAL YEAR January 1 – December 31 ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ACHP Georgia Agency for Culture Heritage Preservation CHF Georgia Culture Heritage Fund CPS Country Partnership Strategy CPS-PR Country Partnership Strategy Progress Report DA Designated Account EMF Environmental Management Framework EMPs Environmental Management Plans EPI USAID-funded Georgia Economic Prosperity Initiative FDI Foreign direct investment FI Financial Intermediary FM Financial Management FMM Financial Management Manual GNTA Georgia National Tourism Administration ICOR Incremental Capital to Output Ratio IFAC International Federation of Accountants IFRs Interim un-audited financial reports ISA International Standards on Auditing ISP Implementation Support Plan LSGs Local Self-Governments MRDI Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure MDF Municipal Development Fund Georgia (Project Implementing Entity) OM Operations Manual PAA Georgia Protected Areas Agency PDO Project Development Objective PSIA Poverty and Social Impact Analysis RAPs Resettlement Action Plans RMIDP Regional & Municipal Infrastructure Development Project SAR Subproject Appraisal Report SECHSA Strategic Environmental Cultural Heritage and Social Assessment SIDA Swedish International Development Agency TOR Terms of Reference Regional Vice President: Philippe H. Le Houérou Country Director: Asad Alam Sector Director: Laszlo Lovei Acting Sector Manager: Benoit Blarel Task Team Leader: Ahmed Eiweida GEORGIA REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. STRATEGIC CONTEXT 1 A. Country Context 1 B. Sectoral and Institutional Context 1 C. Higher Level Objectives 4 II. PROJECT DEVELOPMENT OBJECTIVES 5 A. PDO 5 B. Project Beneficiaries 5 C. PDO Level Results Indicators 5 III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION 6 A. Project Components 6 B. Project Financing 7 C. Lending Instrument 7 D. Project Cost and Financing 8 E. Lessons Learned and Reflected in the Project Design 8 IV. IMPLEMENTATION 9 A. Institutional and Implementation Arrangements 9 B. Results Monitoring and Evaluation 10 C. Sustainability 10 V. KEY RISKS AND MITIGATION MEASURES 11 A. Risk Ratings Summary Table 11 B. Overall Risk Rating Explanation 11 VI. APPRAISAL SUMMARY 12 A. Economic and Financial Analyses 12 B. Technical 13 C. Financial Management 14 D. Procurement 15 E. Social (including safeguards) 16 F. Environment (including safeguards) 17 G. Other Safeguards Policies Triggered 18 H. Effectiveness Condition 18 Annex 1: Results Framework and Monitoring 19 Annex 2: Detailed Project Description 21 Annex 3: Implementation Arrangements 27 Annex 4: Operational Risk Assessment Framework (ORAF) 40 Annex 5: Implementation Support Plan 43 Annex 6: Team Composition 46 Annex 7: Procurement Plan 47 Annex 8: Economic and Financial Assessment 51 Annex 9: Maps 58 DATA SHEET Georgia REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROJECT (P126033) PROJECT APPRAISAL DOCUMENT EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA ECSS6 . Basic Information Date: February 22, 2012 Sectors: General water, sanitation and flood protection (60%), urban transport (30%), local government administration (8%), vocational training (2%) Country Director: Asad Alam Themes: City-wide infrastructure and Acting Sector Benoit Blarel/Laszlo Lovei service delivery (25%), culture Manager/Director: heritage (25%), infrastructure services for private sector development (30%), urban economic development (10%), regional integration (10%) Project ID: P126033 EA F - Financial Intermediary Category: Assessment Lending Instrument: Specific Investment Loan Team Leader(s): Ahmed A. R. Eiweida Does the project include any CDD component? No Joint IFC: No . Borrower: Ministry of Finance Responsible Agency: Georgia Municipal Development Fund Contact: Mr. Levan Chichinadze Title: Executive Director Telephone No.: 995-32-2437001 Email: [email protected] . Project Implementation Period: Start Date: 30-May-2012 End Date: 30-Jun-2016 Expected Effectiveness Date: 30-May-2012 Expected Closing Date: 31-Dec-2016 i . Project Financing Data (US$M) [X] Loan [ ] Grant [ ] Other [ ] Credit [ ] Guarantee Proposed term: A flexible loan with a variable spread and a final maturity of 25 years, including a grace period of 10 years. For Loan: Total Project Cost (US$M): 75.00 Total Bank Financing (US$M): 60.00 . Financing Source Amount (US$ Million) Borrower 15.00 International Bank for Reconstruction and Development 60.00 Total 75.00 . Expected Disbursements (in US$ Million) Fiscal Year 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 Annual 15.00 20.00 15.00 07.00 03.00 Cumulative 15.00 35.00 50.00 57.00 60.00 . Project Development Objective(s) The Project Development Objective is to improve infrastructure services and institutional capacity to support the development of tourism-based economy and cultural heritage circuits in the Kakheti region. Components Component Name Cost (US$ Millions) Infrastructure Investment 56.90 Institutional Development 3.10 . Compliance Policy Does the project depart from the CAS in content or in other significant respects?[ ] Yes No [X] . ii Does the project require any exceptions from Bank policies? [ ] Yes No [X] Have these been approved by Bank management? [ ] Yes No [ ] Is approval for any policy exception sought from the Board? [ ] Yes No [X] Does the project meet the Regional criteria for readiness for implementation? Yes[X] [X] No [ ] . Safeguard Policies Triggered by the Project Yes No Environmental Assessment OP/BP 4.01 X Natural Habitats OP/BP 4.04 X Forests OP/BP 4.36 X Pest Management OP 4.09 X Physical Cultural Resources OP/BP 4.11 X Indigenous Peoples OP/BP 4.10 X Involuntary Resettlement OP/BP 4.12 X Safety of Dams OP/BP 4.37 X Projects on International Waterways OP/BP 7.50 X Projects in Disputed Areas OP/BP 7.60 X . Legal Covenants Name Recurrent Due Date Frequency Supervisory Board X Quarterly Description of Covenant The Borrower shall maintain the supervisory board of the Project Implementing Entity, chaired by the Prime Minister of Georgia. (Loan Agreement: Schedule 2, Section I.A.2). Name Recurrent Due Date Frequency Safeguards X Quarterly Description of Covenant The Borrower shall ensure that the Project is carried out by the Project Implementing Entity in accordance with the provisions of the EMF, EA(s), EMP(s), RPF and RAP(s). (Loan Agreement: Schedule 2, Section I.D.1). Name Recurrent Due Date Frequency Social Safeguards X Quarterly Description of Covenant Prior to the commencement of works, Project Implementing Entity to ensure that the owners and users of the land where works are to be implemented are fully compensated in accordance with the iii provisions of the RAP(s). (Loan Agreement: Schedule 2, Section I.D.2). Name Recurrent Due Date Frequency Resettlement Policy Framework X Quarterly Description of Covenant The Borrower shall ensure that the Project Implementing Entity prepares RAPs according to the RPF. (Loan Agreement: Schedule 2, Section I.D.4). Name Recurrent Due Date Frequency Selection Procedures for, and Terms and X Quarterly Conditions of, Investment Subproject Financing Description of Covenant Investment Subprojects shall be selected in accordance with the selection criteria set forth in the Operations Manual and the Project Agreement. (Project Agreement: Schedule, Section I.C.1). iv I. STRATEGIC CONTEXT A. Country Context 1. Following four years of rapid growth, backed by far-reaching reforms and strong foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows, Georgia experienced a sharp economic downturn resulting from the twin shocks of the August 2008 conflict and the global financial crisis. As a result, authorities launched a counter-cyclical fiscal stimulus and also realigned public expenditures to social and infrastructure investments. As economic recovery takes hold, driven by higher exports and private investment, authorities are reducing the stimulus and implementing fiscal adjustments to safeguard sustainability. Although the recovery resulted in about 6.8 percent growth rate in 2011, there is uncertainty about the pace of future growth due to global economic uncertainties. In response, the authorities are addressing macro-economic vulnerabilities through well-designed fiscal, monetary and debt management policies. The authorities have also maintained their economic reform program backed by a strong public investment program. Georgia is also currently negotiating a Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the EU, which is expected to enhance market access for Georgia‘s goods and modernize industries. 2. Georgia has one of the world‘s most competitive business environments—ranked 16th out of 183 countries according to the ―Doing Business‖ Report, IFC 2012. In particular, it scores well in terms of business start-ups, tax processes, investor protection, access to credit, enforcement of contracts, registering property and issuing construction permits. 3. The Government refocused
Load more

Recommended publications
  • „THE DEVELOPMENT of MINING and GEOLOGY IS the PRECONDITION for the REVIVAL of ECONOMY” September 23-24, 2021
    სსიპ გრიგოლ წულუკიძის სამთო ინსტიტუტი LEPL Grigol Tsulukidze Mining Institute Mineralogical Society of Georgia, G. Tsulukidze Mining Insitute and Georgian Technical University Convene International Scientific-Practical Conference on Up-to-date Problems of Geology: „THE DEVELOPMENT OF MINING AND GEOLOGY IS THE PRECONDITION FOR THE REVIVAL OF ECONOMY” September 23-24, 2021 Current problems of mining and geology The role of mineral resources in the development of the country's economy Natural hazards and environmental protection Mining technologies Geology Geophisics Geography Conference Venue: Sep 23 - Georgian Technical University 77 Kostava st., Administrative Building, Georgian Technical University, 0160, Tbilisi. Sep 24 - RMG GOLD Kazreti, Bolnisi Municipality Language: English, Georgian. Presentation mode: Oral, Poster. The conference materials will be published as an abstract-book. A certificate will be granted to conference participants. The deadline for registration and abstract submission is 30.04. 2021. Application for participation in the conference must be filled in Georgian and English. The abstracts should be sent to e-mail: [email protected] For additional information see the web-site: www.msgeorgia2012.com Contact persons: Maia Kobaxidze Asmat Shekiladze Ketevan Gabarashvili Tel: (+995) 599 91-67-68 Tel: (+995) 599 70-84-28 Tel: (+995) 593 31 73 97 Guidelines for abstracts 1 - The abstract should be represented in English; appropriate Georgian or Russian versions must be attached; 2 - The abstract should
    [Show full text]
  • Reserved Domains
    Countries: (.ge; .edu.ge; .org.ge; .net.ge; .pvt.ge; .school.ge) afghanistan cameroon ghana lebanon nigeria spain zambia albania canada greece lesotho norway srilanka zimbabwe algeria centralafricanrepublic grenada liberia oman sudan andorra chad guatemala libya pakistan suriname angola chile guinea liechtenstein palau swaziland antiguaandbarbuda china guinea-bissau lithuania palestina sweden argentina colombia guyana luxembourg panama switzerland armenia comoros haiti macau papuanewguinea syria aruba congo honduras macedonia paraguay taiwan australia costarica hongkong madagascar peru tajikistan austria croatia hungary malawi philippines tanzania azerbaijan cuba iceland malaysia poland thailand bahama curacao india maldives portugal timor-leste bahrain cyprus indonesia mali qatar togo bangladesh czechia iran malta romania tonga barbados denmark iraq marshallislands russia trinidadandtobago belarus djibouti ireland mauritania rwanda tunisia belgium dominica israel mauritius saintlucia turkey belize dominicanrepublic italy mexico samoa turkmenistan benin ecuador jamaica micronesia sanmarino tuvalu bhutan egypt japan moldova saudiarabia uganda birma elsalvador jordan monaco senegal ukraine bolivia equatorialguinea kazakhstan mongolia serbia unitedarabemirates bosniaandherzegovina eritrea kenya montenegro seychelles uk botswana estonia kiribati morocco sierraleone england brazil ethiopia northkorea mozambique singapore unitedkingdom brunei fiji korea namibia sintmaarten uruguay bulgaria finland southkorea nauru slovakia uzbekistan burkinafaso
    [Show full text]
  • Realizing the Urban Potential in Georgia: National Urban Assessment
    REALIZING THE URBAN POTENTIAL IN GEORGIA National Urban Assessment ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK REALIZING THE URBAN POTENTIAL IN GEORGIA NATIONAL URBAN ASSESSMENT ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 IGO license (CC BY 3.0 IGO) © 2016 Asian Development Bank 6 ADB Avenue, Mandaluyong City, 1550 Metro Manila, Philippines Tel +63 2 632 4444; Fax +63 2 636 2444 www.adb.org Some rights reserved. Published in 2016. Printed in the Philippines. ISBN 978-92-9257-352-2 (Print), 978-92-9257-353-9 (e-ISBN) Publication Stock No. RPT168254 Cataloging-In-Publication Data Asian Development Bank. Realizing the urban potential in Georgia—National urban assessment. Mandaluyong City, Philippines: Asian Development Bank, 2016. 1. Urban development.2. Georgia.3. National urban assessment, strategy, and road maps. I. Asian Development Bank. The views expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) or its Board of Governors or the governments they represent. ADB does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this publication and accepts no responsibility for any consequence of their use. This publication was finalized in November 2015 and statistical data used was from the National Statistics Office of Georgia as available at the time on http://www.geostat.ge The mention of specific companies or products of manufacturers does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by ADB in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. By making any designation of or reference to a particular territory or geographic area, or by using the term “country” in this document, ADB does not intend to make any judgments as to the legal or other status of any territory or area.
    [Show full text]
  • Realizing the Urban Potential in Georgia
    Realizing the Urban Potential in Georgia National Urban Assessment: Executive Summary RealizingRealizing thethe UrbanUrban PotentialPotential inin GeorgiaGeorgia ThisNationalNational publication UrbanUrban AssessmentAssessment details the:: Executive Executive rapid assessment SummarySummary of the urban sector in Georgia to understand key urbanization trends and patterns of growth and to analyze challenges and opportunities. It gives a snapshot of the state ofThisThis urban publicationpublication aairs at detailsdetails the national thethe rapidrapid level assessmentassessment with an urbanization ofof thethe urbanurban profile, sectorsector governance inin GeorgiaGeorgia to toand understandunderstand urban management keykey urbanizationurbanization profile, capacitytrendstrends andand needs patternspatterns assessment, ofof growthgrowth urban andand financetoto analyzeanalyze matrix, challengeschallenges and a “E” andand opportunities.assessmentopportunities. covering ItIt givesgives economic, aa snapshotsnapshot environmental, ofof thethe statestate andofof urbanurban social aairsaairs equity atat profiles. thethe nationalnational This documentlevellevel withwith anan is noturbanizationurbanization a strategy profile,profile, but the governancegovernance basis for developing andand urbanurban a managementmanagementnational urban profile,profile, strategycapacitycapacity and needsneeds road assessment,assessment, map for integrated urbanurban financefinance investments matrix,matrix, toandand maximize aa “E”“E” assessmentassessment development
    [Show full text]
  • Environmental and Socio-Economic Implications of the Mining Sector
    ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPLICATIONS OF THE MINING SECTOR AND PROSPECTS OF RESPONSIBLE MINING IN GEORGIA The study was prepared within the framework of the project 'Promoting Environmental and Social Accountability in the Mining Sector in the Caucasus', which is being implemented with the financial support of the Bread for the World Protestant Development Service (BftW). The content of the publication is the responsibility of the implementing organisation alone. 2 CONTENT INTRODUCTION 5 1. Mineral reSourceS of GeorGia anD The hiSTory of Their MininG anD ProceSSing 7 1.1 Brief DeScriPTion of Mineral reSources 7 1.2 Brief hiSTory of MininG in GeorGia 7 1.3 DynaMicS of The DeveloPMenT of MininG inDuSTry in GeorGia 9 1.3.1 SoliD MineralS 9 1.3.2 oil anD Gas 10 2. GeorGian laWS anD inSTiTuTional SeT-uP relaTeD To MininG 13 2.1 naTional leGiSlaTion 13 2.1.1 conSTiTuTion of GeorGia 13 2.1.2 laW of GeorGia on enTrailS of The earTh 13 2.1.3 laW of GeorGia on licenceS anD PerMits 13 2.1.4 laW of GeorGia on environMenTal ProTecTion 14 2.1.5 laW of GeorGia on culTural heriTaGe 14 2.1.6 oTher reGulaTionS relaTeD To culTural heriTaGe 14 2.1.7 inTernaTional convenTionS relaTeD To culTural heriTaGe raTifieD By GeorGia 14 2.2 inSTiTuTional fraMeWork of The GeorGian MininG inDuSTry 15 2.2.1 STaTe inSTiTuTionS anD Their ManDaTes 15 2.2.2 inTeraGency cooPeraTion 17 3. inTernaTional DeveloPMenT orGanizaTionS acTive in GeorGia anD caTeGorieS of DeveloPMenT Projects 19 4. STa.TiSTicS of inveSTMenTS MaDe in The MininG SecTor of GeorGia (2009-2015) 23 4.1 aMounT of inveSTMents 23 4.2 inveSTMenT SourceS 24 5.
    [Show full text]
  • Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the Kvemo Kartli Region of Georgia
    Obstacles Impeding the Regional Integration of the Kvemo Kartli Region of Georgia Jonathan Wheatley ECMI Working Paper #23 February 2005 EUROPEAN CENTRE FOR MINORITY ISSUES (ECMI) Schiffbruecke 12 (Kompagnietor) D-24939 Flensburg ( +49-(0)461-14 14 9-0 fax +49-(0)461-14 14 9-19 e-mail: [email protected] Internet: http://www.ecmi.de ECMI Working Paper #23 European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) Director: Marc Weller © Copyright 2005 by the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) Published in February 2005 by the European Centre for Minority Issues (ECMI) 2 Table of Contents I. Introduction.............................................................................4 II. Background Information........................................................5 Geographical Features and Ethnic Demography......................................................................5 Economy and Infrastructure....................................................................................................7 Local Structures of Administration........................................................................................10 III. Recent Historical Events.....................................................13 IV Actors in the Local Arena....................................................18 The Local Authorities...........................................................................................................18 Ethnic Balance in the Recruitment of Personnel....................................................................19 Political Parties.....................................................................................................................21
    [Show full text]
  • Developments at Georgian Railway
    Feature Developments at Georgian Railway Developments at Georgian Railway Teimuraz Gorshkov and George Bagaturia proposed in the 1830s when it was it was shipped to world markets. The last History of Georgian Railway realized that a railway from Poti on the major line between Georgia and Armenia Black Sea to Tbilisi (the capital of Georgia) was opened in 1899. Georgian Railway (GRW) Ltd. is located could carry a great deal of the trade Rapid development of Georgian industry in the South Caucasus at a key point on between northern Iran and Europe, and agriculture between 1924 and 1940 the ancient Silk Road between Europe and especially since it would be only half as was followed by construction of new Asia (Fig. 1). The Silk Road was more than long as a railway through Turkey. branch lines throughout the Georgian a trade route—it was a conduit for Construction of the first Trans-Caucasus regions. A connection with the Russian exchange of knowledge and culture that line started in 1865 and the first passenger railway network was begun during WWII contributed to the development of all train from Poti arrived at Tbilisi on 10 and opened in 1946 despite the war. countries in the region. Today’s GRW October 1872, marking the birth of GRW. Completion of the network between Baku, network has a similar function to the Silk The first trains covered the 310-km Tbilisi, and Batumi had a positive effect Road by serving as a transport artery journey in 15 hours. The next 20 years on the economies of Georgia and the linking the Black and Caspian seas.
    [Show full text]
  • Debeda HPP • Region – Kvemo Kartli • River - Debeda • Installed Capacity - 3 MW
    Ministry of Energy of Georgia Power Industry Development Plan of Georgia Main directions of Energy Policy of Georgia • Diversification of energy supply sources, optimal utilization of energy resources and creation of reserves; • Utilization of Georgian renewable energy resources; • Gradual harmonization of Georgian legislation with EU legislation; • Development of Georgian energy market and improvement of energy trade mechanism ; • Strengthening the transit role of Georgia in the region; • Georgia – Regional Center for clean energy production and trade; • A coherent approach to the development and implementation of energy efficiency; • Implementation of energy projects considering environmental factors; • Improvement of service quality and protection of consumer interests. 2 Existing Electricity Generation Units in Georgia Total Installed Capacity – 3719MW. Hydro Power Plants: Thermal Power Plants: 65 HPPs 5 TPPs Installed Capacity– 2795 MW. Installed Capacity - 914 MW. 3 Investment Made and Planed in Energy Sector of Georgia • Ten Year Network Development Plan of Georgia- 850 mln. USD; • Completed Construction of 14 Hydropower Plant and 2 Thermal Power Plant - 420 MW. - 540 mln. USD; • Ongoing 122 Projects - 4,300 MW. – 8 bln. USD; • Ongoing Construction of 17 Power Plants - 841 MW- 1.95 bln. USD; • Thermal Power Plants - 500 MW- 500 mln. USD; • 7 Power Plants will become operation with total installed capacity of 422.7 MW 4 10 Year Network Development Plan Transmission Lines length increases by 1700 KM, Estimated Investment 850 Mln. USD Shilda HPP • Region- Kakheti • River - Chelti • Installed Capacity - 5 MW. • Annual Generation- 30 Mln. KWH • Implemented Investment- $ 6,312,000 • Investor - LLC “ENERGIA” Russia Black Sea Kakheti Turkey Armenia Azerbaijan 12 Shilda HPP 13 Akhmeta HPP • Region - Kakheti • River – Alazani, Ilto • Installed Capacity - 9.1 MW.
    [Show full text]
  • Reserved Domains
    Countries: (.ge; .edu.ge; .org.ge; .net.ge; .pvt.ge; .school.ge) afghanistan cameroon ghana greece lebanon nigeria spain zambia albania canada grenada lesotho liberia norway srilanka zimbabwe algeria centralafricanrepublic guatemala libya oman sudan andorra chad guinea liechtenstein pakistan palau suriname angola chile guinea-bissau lithuania palestina swaziland antiguaandbarbuda china guyana luxembourg panama sweden argentina colombia haiti macau papuanewguinea switzerland macedonia armenia comoros honduras paraguay peru syria madagascar aruba congo hongkong philippines taiwan malawi australia costarica hungary poland portugal tajikistan malaysia austria croatia iceland qatar romania tanzania maldives mali azerbaijan cuba india russia malta thailand bahama curacao indonesia marshallislands rwanda timor-leste bahrain cyprus iran iraq mauritania saintlucia togo tonga bangladesh czechia ireland mauritius samoa trinidadandtobago barbados denmark israel italy mexico sanmarino tunisia turkey belarus djibouti dominica jamaica micronesia saudiarabia turkmenistan belgium dominicanrepublic japan moldova senegal serbia tuvalu uganda seychelles belize ecuador egypt jordan monaco ukraine sierraleone benin elsalvador kazakhstan mongolia unitedarabemirates singapore bhutan equatorialguinea kenya montenegro uk england sintmaarten birma eritrea kiribati morocco unitedkingdom slovakia bolivia estonia northkorea mozambique uruguay slovenia bosniaandherzegovina korea namibia nauru uzbekistan ethiopia solomonislands botswana brazil southkorea nepal vatikan
    [Show full text]
  • The Political Economy of Georgia's Rose Revolution
    East European Democratization The Political Economy of Georgia’s Rose Revolution by Vladimer Papava Vladimer Papava ([email protected]) is a Senior Fellow at the Georgian Foundation for Strategic and International Studies. He was a Minister of Economy of the Republic of Georgia (1994–2000) and Fulbright Fellow at the Central Asia-Caucasus Institute of the Nitze School at The Johns Hopkins University’s SAIS (2005–06). Abstract: The Rose Revolution opened a new chapter in the history of modern Georgia. The post-revolution government achieved a number of successes in areas such as dramatically increasing state budget revenues, fighting corrup- tion, and setting up effective cooperative relationships with the international financial institutions. But it made some mistakes, too, in building a demo- cratic state in general and in its economic policy in particular. Its relationship with Russia and its excessive exposure to Russian investments is particularly troubling. The country’s policies need to be fine-tuned in order to protect its democracy and promote further economic growth. he Georgian people’s Rose Revolution of November 2003 strove to achieve a democratic society, improve human rights and living T conditions, reduce corruption, and enhance the national economy.1 Accordingly, the Revolution and its heroes, led by Mikhail Saakashvili, received the support of the Bush administration, the EU, and its member states. Three years later, the euphoria that followed the Revolution, both within and outside the country, has gradually been replaced by more realistic assessments of the results of the post-revolution policies to date. The sobering up from being drunk on revolution occurred somewhat sooner within Georgia 1 For more on the revolution, see Neal Ascherson, ‘‘After the Revolution,’’ London Review of Books, Mar.
    [Show full text]
  • 2017 Migration Profile of Georgia
    STATE COMMISSION ON MIGRATION ISSUES 2017 MIGRATION PROFILE OF GEORGIA 2017 TBILISI, GEORGIA 1 2017 MIGRATION PROFILE OF GEORGIA Unofficial Translation Acknowledgments The development of the present document was made possible thanks to the data provided and the useful rec- ommendations shared by the members of the State Commission on Migration Issues (SCMI),1 which helped us both in the interpretation of data and presentation of the most comprehensive picture of the ongoing migra- tory processes in the country. Moreover, the Secretariat of the State Commission on Migration Issues extends its gratitude to the European Union (EU) and the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD/ENIGMMA Project) for the technical support provided during the development of this Migration Profile (MP). As in the case of the 2015 MP, the State Commission on Migration Issues has relied on the experience and recom- mendations of international organisations, as well as local civil society and academia representatives involved in migration management-related activities, to further improve the MP development process and ensure that the document serves as a reliable resource for all stakeholders involved in the field of migration, whether they be from the fields of academic research, teaching, policy development or management. © Secretariat of the State Commission on Migration Issues 1 Members of the State Commission on Migration Issues: the Ministry of Justice (MoJ); the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA); the State Security Service (SSSG); the
    [Show full text]
  • State of Forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia
    State of Forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia State of Forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia GENEVA TIMBER AND FOREST STUDY PAPER Overview of forests and sustainable forest management in the Caucasus and Central Asia region New York and Geneva, 2019 2 State of Forests of the Caucasus and Central Asia COPYRIGHT AND DISCLAIMER Copyright© 2019 United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. All rights reserved worldwide. The designations employed in UNECE and FAO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and the presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) concerning the legal status of any country; area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in this study and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and its publication does not constitute an endorsement by UNECE or FAO of the opinions expressed. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes, whether or not these have been patented, does not imply their endorsement by UNECE or FAO, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. This work is copublished by the United Nations (UNECE) and FAO. ABSTRACT The study on the state of forests in the Caucasus and Central Asia aims to present the forest resources and the forest sector of the region, including trends in, and pressures on the resource, to describe the policies and institutions for the forest sector in the region and to list the major challenges the sector faces, and the policy responses in place or planned.
    [Show full text]