“I promise that there will be never yet seen economic progress in Georgia. It will happen during the second, third and fourth years”, Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili said on February 16 at the extra session of the Georgian Dream Party.

100 days of the Government

The Head of new Government held (on February 19) the second meeting with business representatives. The issues related to different sectors of economy were discussed with participation of more than 200 representatives of the business sector. “The Government will surely apply all efforts to revive the economy of Georgia”, the Prime Minister of Georgia Bidzina Ivanishvili told journalists after the meeting with businessmen. “It was clear at the meeting that business had believed in the ideology the Government promised. We felt a lot of credence and we will certainly make all efforts to revive the economy of Georgia. Nobody dares to interfere with the private business. No business redistribution will occur in the country any more”, Bidzina Ivanishvili said. According to the Prime Minister, the meeting with businessmen was business-friendly and results-oriented.

“I have also passed a difficult path ... I have no opportunity to be engaged in business today, nevertheless I know the needs of business well and I assure you that the Government will interfere with business for only one purpose, which is to facilitate and improve conditions for entrepreneurs and businessmen”, Bidzina Ivanishvili said.

The Prime Minister of Georgia introduced Giorgi Gakharia to the businessmen; he is to become a business ombudsman of Georgia. This is a new position to Georgia called upon to protect the rights of business. According to Ivanishvili, Gakharia has the special education in the business management sphere and he “knows the language of business very well”.

“It will be good if we discuss this issue within a week. It is possible to find another name for the position of business ombudsman. We do all this to promote the process when businessmen deliver their problems to the Government in a simpler and quicker way”, Bidzina Ivanishvili said.

The Head of the Georgian Government held meetings with the members of the Russian business delegation; during the meetings he said that the priority of the new Government was to protect the property rights: “None of the officials will interfere with business, just pay taxes”, Bidzina Ivanishvili said. He finished his speech with the proposal to invest in Georgia where,  he promises, economy upturn is going to happen along with protecting of competition and civil liberties by the government and corruption will be eradicated. “Keep an eye on Georgia, there is going to be much interesting to see”, he resumed.

Positive trends

“A number of positive trends has been observed in the economy of Georgia, there is no grounds to assume that there is financial crisis running in the country”, Georgia Minister of Finance Nodar Khaduri said at the first channel OVG. Thus, N.Khaduri commented on statements regarding the financial crisis in the country and falling economic indicators fixed in Georgia over the past months. 

“There are no signs of financial crisis in the country. The operating data is encouraging. The current budget of the country totals 800 mln lari ($484 mln). According to our forecast, the economic growth will total at least 6% in 2013”, the Minister of Finance said. 

According to the Finance Minister, the activity and turnover of the small and medium business of the country increased. The data on sales checks confirms it once again. 

“A little over 33 mln sales checks were printed in January 2012. The total turnover reached 650 mln lari ($393 mln). About 40 mln sales checks were already printed as of January 22, 2013. The total turnover reached 740 mln lari ($448 mln)”, he noted. 

As Khaduri said, reduction of the number of monopolies enabled opening of markets and decline of prices. “The Business is not under the press of power any more, and the business environment in the country has improved”, he noted. 

Georgia’s Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili provided (February 22) the diplomatic corps a report on the work of the government during the first 100 days. Electricity, gas and petrol fees were reduced in Georgia 100 days after Bidzina Ivanishvili occupied the position of the Prime Minister. The payment for electricity, gas and garbage fell by 25%, 10%, 50% respectively and the price for bread reduced 7 cents over the reporting period. 

Along with it, the Chairman of the Union of Oil Products Producers and Importers of Georgia Vano Mtvralashvili noted that monopoly in Georgia is gradually vanishing. Besides, the quantity of petrol stations, which have nothing to do with certain brands and sell fuel at much lower prices, has considerably grown up. It enables a consumer to make choice. 

“Considering the heritage our government gained from the National Movement, we did all we could do within a three month period”, Bidzina Ivanishvili said.