Issue no: 1216/213 • DEC. 31 - JAN. 9, 2019/2020 • PUBLISHED TWICE WEEKLY PRICE: GEL 2.50 In this week’s issue... Weekly Entrepreneurial News @entrepreneur.ge NEWS PAGE 2 Agri Review December 2019 – The Sector at a Glance ISET PAGE 4 20 Tips to Succeed in 2020! FOCUS BUSINESS PAGE 5 Four Large-scale ON NEW International Exhibitions to be Held in Frankfurt YEAR CHEER BUSINESS PAGE 6 The now-famous Georgian doctor has been freed PAGE 3 Georgia: 5 Months of Sanctions Sees 100,000 Russians Less, But 215,000 The Christmas & New Year's Eve More Other Tourists BUSINESS PAGE 7 Festivities Awaiting You in Tbilisi Major Geopolitical Trends for 2020 BY ANA DUMBADZE BUSINESS PAGE 8 ew Year in Georgia is one of the most important celebra- Economy Ministry: Electricity tions and everyone waits impatiently for it. For the local population, just as it is in the rest of the world, New Year is a symbol of new hope, wishes, and goals. People in Import to Decrease, Export Georgia celebrate the New Year by sitting down to a feast to Increase in 2020 Nwith their family or attending a special event. Every part of the country celebrates the new beginning in their own BUSINESS PAGE 9 Why I Strike for the Climate BUSINESS PAGE 10 Photo Courtesy: Tbilisi City Hall Magnolia Awards 2019 traditional way. In Tbilisi, Georgia's beautiful capital, various festive events are scheduled by City Hall, which this year promises a more magical and unforgettable New Year than ever before. A two-week program of concerts, theater shows, fi lm screenings and workshops for young visitors is on at two locations in the Georgian cap- ital to bring festive spirit to all. Launched on December 25 with the unveiling of the city's central Christ- mas tree in the 'Christmas Town,' the offi cial City Hall program involves dozens of participants, from musical artists and theater troupes to craft- speople and food vendors. Continued on page 2 BUSINESS PAGE 11 GEORGIA TODAY 2 NEWS DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 9, 2019/2020 The Christmas & New Year's Eve Festivities Awaiting You in Tbilisi @entrepreneur.ge Gamarjoba! I’m the Editor-in-Chief of the Georgian edition of Entrepreneur magazine and I’m here to share the top weekly Continued from page 1 On January 5 and 10, the Little Prince 20:45 -21:45 - Goofy Land Entrepreneurial news with you: will fl y over Tbilisi. Air shows will start The events are being hosted in the newly at 8 PM. During the day, many activities 6 January renovated historical Orbeliani Square as will take place for children: concerts, fairy- 20:00-21:00 - The Quintessence – Christ- Marimo was founded by Mariam well as the now-customary spot of the First tale character performances and Christmas mas concert Chagelishvili, driven by a from- Republic Square, where Christmas Town Tree decorations crafting workshops. 21:00-23:00 - Lasha Margiani (Hatsvali) childhood love of creating. It has been set up with decorations and a For the New Year, Tbilisi Christmas specializes in organizing events, fairground to run from 25 December to 13 Market will unite the projects 'Taste in the 7 January including weddings, with beautiful, January. Head to the First Republic Square Streets of Tbilisi' and 'Tbilisian Market'. 20:00-21:00 - Georgian singing stars and outstanding décor and design and is fast-growing in popularity. Marimo has at 11 PM on December 31 for a gala concert Every night, in the First Republic Square, bands a number of plans for the future, giving where the people's favorite TV show Dead Georgian singing stars, musical bands, 21:00-23:00 - DJ Nika Kvachadze brides moments of unforgettable Ringers will be shown open air. and DJs will give performances for you. excitement and the freedom and On the evening of New Year's Day, the 8 January variety of choice. world-renowned musical project Max 29 December 20:00-21:00 - Luka Dgebuadze trio the Sax will perform before the audience 20:00-21:00 - Georgian singing stars 21:00-23:00 - Ia Tomashi and Saba Abra- Kaleisi is a Georgian brand of silver jewelry, at 9 PM in the same square. 21:00-23:00 - DJ Nika Japaridze (Nika J) midze creating high-quality accessories for ladies The fi nal event of the New Year will and gentlemen. The brand entered the market be on January 13, at 8 PM, to celebrate 30 December 9 January in 2018, the founders being childhood friends the Orthodox "Old" New Year with top 20:00-21:00 - Georgian singing stars 20:00-21:00 - Davit Evgenidze and the band Tata Kapanadze and Mariam Khukhunaishvili. Georgian singers Stephane, Nino Kata- 21:00-23:00 - DJ Shotiko Tsverava (Sumo) 21:00-23:00 - DJ Beka Lortkipanidze (Baqi Offering unique production in style, madze, Lela Tsurtsumia, Nato Metonidze Lordkipanidze) packaging, price and character, it is already and Sopho Nizharadze. 31 December popular among jewelry lovers. Tata and 23:00 - New Year Gala concert / musical 10 January Mariam plan to offer their clients a comfortable web-order service from 2020. PROGRAM show Dead Ringers 20:00-20:45 - The Little Prince show The upcoming website will enable customers Orbeliani Square (25 December - 13 20:45-21:45 - Rezo and the Children to take a look at the brand’s old and new January) 1 January collections and choose items of their liking. In Orbeliani Square, you will be greeted 21:00-22:00 - MAX THE SAX 11 January with the magically illuminated Atoneli 22:00-00:00 - DJ Nika Janelidze (Skalitzer) 20:00-21:00 - Newton band Street, with a Chichilaki forest and lit-up 21:00-23:00 - DJ Erekle Tabukashvili GukArt is a Georgian brand oriented on personal health and planet, Santa Claus' house and an ice rink. 2 January (Tobacco Twin) comfort. The company produces During the day, many entertaining pro- 20:00-21:00 - Davit Iluridze band handmade everyday-items with grams will be offered for children, as 21:00-23:00 - DJ Misho Gochitashvili 12 January natural materials, such as clay. will food vendors, a public karaoke spot 20:00-21:00 - Georgian Folk concert Founder Guranda Kemoklidze and musical performances by DJs. 3 January 21:00-22:00 - Blues Factory Levan Javakh- says: “I like to give customers 20:00-21:00 - New One band ishvili items of necessity in a beautiful, First Republic Square (25 December 21:00-23:00 - DJ Sandro Jorbenadze (DJ 22:00-00:00 - DJ Toke Nikolaishvili (Toke) new form.” At present, GukArt - 13 January) SendNudes) is only selling hand-painted air Santa Claus and his elves welcome you 13 January humectants but in future, in the magical town where diverse per- 4 January 20:00-21:00 - Georgian singing stars and GukArt plans to offer a greater variety of products of other formances are ready to entertain you. 19:40-20:00 - Saba Sapareli (Street Musician) bands material, such as wool. Meet juggling clowns and magicians, a 20:00-21:00 - Nodariko Khutsishvili band 21:00-23:00 - DJ Oto Parulava chemistry show, various workshops for 21:00-23:00 - DJ Kote Japaridze Follow the Entrepreneur Georgia Instagram page to get the latest updates from children, a wind orchestra and drummers, "You are going to have a New Year full of Georgian Entrepreneurs. For doing business with Georgian Entrepreneurs, write us on fairy-tale readings, children's movies and 5 January history. Happy New Year!" reads the website [email protected] more. (12 PM - 8 PM) 20:00-20:45 - The Little Prince show of Tbilisi City Hall. GEORGIA TODAY DECEMBER 31 - JANUARY 9, 2019/2020 BUSINESS 3 Dr. Gaprindashvili Freed “My friends, tomorrow’s freedom car BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE honking protest has been replaced by great happiness: on December 29, at 7 PM there will be a big box waiting for octor Gaprindashvili was you in the National Library. You will be illegally detained on able to place there the ‘thank you letters’ November 9 in the region addressed to the man who honored us. of Akhalgori. On December We’ll be delivering them on New Year’s 20, the Court of the ‘Lenin- Eve. You can repeat the gesture in every Dgori region’ charged the Georgian doctor city! Doctor Vazha is free!” with illegally crossing the so-called bor- International society was also quick to der and sentenced him to one year and respond to the release of the heroic doc- nine months in prison. To everyone’s tor. surprise, the doctor was then released OSCE Secretary General Thomas on December 28. Greminger welcomed the fact on his Sputnik-Ossetia reported that Dr. Twitter page with the words: “Welcome Gaprindashvili was pardoned by the de- the release of Dr. Gaprindashvili. Further facto President of occupied South Osse- detentions should be avoided and free- tia, Anatoly Bibilov. dom of movement guaranteed for all The information about the doctor’s people, at all times.” release was fi rst reported by the State “I welcome and applaud the news of Security Service. As the news spread the release of Georgian doctor Vazha throughout Georgian society, Irakli #Gaprindashvili,” the Minister of Foreign Antadze, Deputy Director of the Ana- try of Georgia.” emphasizing that she appreciated eve- future has become stronger!” President Affairs of the Republic of Latvia, Edgars lytical Department of the State Security Doctor Vazha Gaprindashvili held his ryone’s contribution to the doctor’s of Georgia Salome Zurabishvili wrote Rinkevics, wrote on his offi cial Twitter Service, further assured the public that fi rst press briefi ng in Tbilisi on Decem- release.