facebook.com/ georgiatoday Issue no: 1002/106 • NOVEMBER 28 - 30, 2017 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... FOCUS Fire at Batumi Hotel Kills ON BP IN GEORGIA 11, Injures over 20 NEWS PAGE 2 Ahead of the Belt & Road Forum, we look at Georgia-BP relations PAGE 6 Does Georgia Need Highly Educated Workers? ISET PAGE 4 IWA Acting President on the IWA Winter Fair BUSINESS PAGE 7 New Recycling Spots in Tbilisi Gary Jones, BP Regional President BUSINESS PAGE 11 Galleria Tbilisi Grand Opening Planned This Week Former Reader’s Editor at The Guardian Advises Media on BY NINO GUGUINISHVILI Best Practice SOCIETY PAGE 12 he Grand opening of Galleria Tbilisi is planned for 8PM on A Deeper Look at Turkey- November 30. The new multi- functional shopping mall will Russia Relations have up to 100 international and Tlocal brand names, a Cavea Movie Theater, POLITICS PAGE 13 bowling center, entertainment center for chil- dren, cafés, Goodwill supermarket and more. Work of Legendary Griboedov Theater, Liberty Theater and metro station Freedom Square are to be integrated into the shopping center. Galleria Tbilisi will Lithuanian Photographer at also have an underground car park for almost 300 cars. Georgian National Museum Continued on page 2 CULTURE PAGE 15 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by Markets Asof24ͲNovͲ2017 STOCKS Price w/w m/m BONDS Price w/w m/m BGEOGroup(BGEOLN) GBP33.34 +0,6% Ͳ5,2% GEOROG04/21 107.46(YTM4.37%) +0,0% +0,8% GHG(GHGLN) GBP3.40 Ͳ1,6% Ͳ5,7% GEORG04/21 112.34(YTM3.00%) Ͳ0,1% Ͳ0,0% TBCBankGroup(TBCGLN) GBP16.28 Ͳ2,5% Ͳ5,9% GRAIL07/22 111.96(YTM4.83%) +0,1% +0,1% BGEOLN07/23 103.58(YTM5.26%) +0,3% +0,4% COMMODITIES Price w/w m/m CrudeOil,Brent(US$/bbl) 63,86 +1,8% +9,5% CURRENCIES Price w/w m/m GoldSpot(US$/OZ) 1288,37 Ͳ0,3% +0,9% GEL/USD 2,6951 Ͳ0,7% +6,9% GEL/EUR 3,2165 +0,6% +8,4% INDICES Price w/w m/m GEL/GBP 3,5945 +0,3% +8,5% FTSE100 7409,64 +0,4% Ͳ1,6% GEL/CHF 2,7557 +0,6% +8,4% FTSE250 19944,79 +0,7% Ͳ0,8% GEL/RUB 0,0460 Ͳ0,2% +5,0% DAX 13059,84 +0,5% +0,4% GEL/TRY 0,6813 Ͳ2,9% +1,0% DOWJONES 23557,99 +0,9% +0,5% GEL/AZN 1,5860 Ͳ1,0% +6,8% NASDAQ 6889,16 +1,6% +4,4% GEL/AMD 0,0056 Ͳ +7,7% MSCIEMEE 166,02 +3,2% +4,5% GEL/UAH 0,1001 Ͳ2,5% +5,9% MSCIEM 1154,26 +1,6% +3,7% EUR/USD 0,8380 Ͳ1,2% Ͳ1,4% SP500 2602,42 +0,9% +1,3% GBP/USD 0,7497 Ͳ0,9% Ͳ1,5% MICEX 2161,17 +1,4% +4,8% CHF/USD 0,9795 Ͳ1,0% Ͳ1,2% MSCIFM 2892,31 +1,1% +0,2% RUB/USD 58,4488 Ͳ1,0% +1,4% GTIndex(GEL) 1582,68 ͲͲTRY/USD 3,9553 +2,0% +5,7% GTIndex(USD) 1208,13 ͲͲAZN/USD 1,6988 +0,1% Ͳ0,1% GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS NOVEMBER 28 - 30, 2017 Fire at Batumi Hotel Kills 11, Injures over 20 BY THE GEORGIA TODAY TEAM round 150 fi re-fi ghters and 200 Police offi cers were mobilized at the Leo Grand Galleria Tbilisi Grand Opening hotel in Georgia’s Black Sea coastal city Batumi on Fri- Aday, where an extensive fi re killed 11 Planned This Week people, amongst whom 10 are said to be Continued from page 1 with a children’s entertainment center Georgians. 21 others were seriously and an entire fl oor of Galleria Tbilisi injured. In concept, Galleria Tbilisi is said to dedicated as a Food Court, with McDon- Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs the victims of the November 24 tragedy. avoiding responsibility and is ready to be not only a place for shopping, but also alds, KFC, Burger King, Tashir Pizza, (MIA) reported that the emergency ser- National fl ags were lowered throughout cooperate with the investigation. He said an area where customers will have a Mado, Sakhachapure N1, one of the Deli- vices were notifi ed of the blaze at 20:01 the country. law enforcers had been provided with chance to dine out, have fun and enjoy france Bakery chain sub-brands, and on Friday. After the tragic fi re, Public Defender all requested documents by the company. various services. “Galleria Tbilisi will more. Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia told of Georgia, Ucha Nanuashvili, called for The owner of Leo Grand, Erol Ave- bring back ‘the heart of the city’ status “As Freedom Square is integrated into reporters that fi refi ghters had to use an inspection of all the hotels through- goren, claimed the hotel has not been to this area, in the center of Tbilisi,” Nika Galleria Tbilisi, visitors can reach the rescue cranes to evacuate guests from out the country in terms of fi re and fi ned for neglecting safety guidelines Tsintsadze, Galleria Tbilisi CEO told shopping mall directly from the metro, the building and added that an investi- security norms. Nanuashvili offered his and that safety measures were in line GEORGIA TODAY. hugely convenient for our customers,” gation had been launched under Article condolences to the families of the with legal standards. At Galleria Tbilisi, brands like H&M, Tsintsadze told us. “And because of its 243 of the Criminal Code of Georgia, deceased, saying that not only are hotel "The security measures at the hotel Calvin Klein Jeans, Armani Exchange, excellent location, for people who live entailing a breach of fi re and safety norms. personnel to be held responsible, but the meet national standards. The hotel has Lagerfeld, Lacoste, Guess, Trussardi, and work in the city center, Galleria “The main stairs of the hotel were state also. “This case should serve as never been fi ned for non-observance of United Colors of Benetton, IKKS, BNG, Tbilisi will be within easy reach, com- blocked due to the fi re and the hotel grounds for the implementation of rel- the safety rules," Avgoren told reporters. Delfy, Roman, and NYX are among the fortable to shop for anything they might guests were stuck on the 7th fl oor. I evant regulations by authorities in order Despite Avgoren’s comment of a clean names set to be represented, some of need,” he adds. “We consider tourists to would like to thank the fi re-fi ghters, who to check the safety of all hotels and safety record, their lawyer stated that them opening their stores for the fi rst be just as important a part of our target managed to save around 100 people,” guesthouses,” Nanuashvili said, adding the hotel had been fi ned 100 GEL on time in Tbilisi and Georgia. Of special audience, and we’ll be sure to attract Gakharia said. that it is important to quickly and effec- June 20. note is an Apple offi cial premium them through our location and services,” Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, tively investigate the cause of the blaze. "The hotel was fi ned on June 20 with reseller. Tsintsadze notes. who was returning to Georgia from Brus- The Chair of the Adjara Government, regard to fi re-extinguishers. The hotel Cavea Movie Theater at Galleria Tbi- Galleria Tbilisi will have both com- sels, re-directed to Batumi to visit the Zurab Pataridze, told media that the Leo corrected the defi ciency, but, unfortu- lisi is to be the fi rst Dolby Atmos movie mercial and higher-segment brands, so scene. He stressed that the investigation Grand hotel had earlier been fi ned by nately, this tragedy occurred. The com- theater in Georgia, equipped with a offering “something for everyone”. will reveal the cause of the fi re, and all the corresponding agency of the Minis- pany will support the families," Tsereteli 360-degree high-quality sound system those responsible will be brought to jus- try of Internal Affairs due to poor fi re said. and comfortable chairs for movie lovers On November 30th a number of stores and tice in accordance with the law. “We all safety norms, adding the Tourism Depart- 11 people were killed in the fi re, includ- to fully enjoy the experience. Alongside other amenities will be functioning. stand by the families of the deceased. ment had also issued recommendations ing 10 Georgians and 1 citizen of the Cavea Movie Theater, the Griboedov Galleria Tbilisi is a project of the Co-Investment This is a huge tragedy for us,” he added. last year. Republic of Iran. 21 people were injured, and Liberty theaters will be integrated Fund, under the real estate and tourism man- The Government of Georgia declared Kakha Tsereteli, the lawyer of Leo including a fi refi ghter, 4 Turkish citizens into the new shopping space, together date. November 27 as a Day of Mourning for Grand hotel, stated the company is not and 1 Israeli. GEORGIA TODAY NOVEMBER 28 - 30, 2017 NEWS 3 Parliament of Georgia to Tbilisi Budget to be Fully Accessible for Increase in 2018 People with Disabilities BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES n November 28, the Parlia- ment of Georgia is to pre- sent a concept note “Acces- sible Parliament for All” which will kick off the Ore-arrangement of the Parliament prem- ises in Tbilisi to ensure easy access for people with mobility and vision impair- ments. The event will be attended by Members of Parliament, representatives of the Georgian Government, civil society, international organizations and associa- tions of people with disability.