Economics

Georgian airports served 7.4 million passengers

The number represented a 24 percent increase from the previous year, while also noting the number of flights had increased by 25 percent throughout 2024.Kvrivishvili added “successful negotiations” with 10 airlines resulted in the introduction of 13 direct routes, leading to the entry of Austria Airlines, Transavia, and Air China into the Georgian airline market.Looking ahead to 2025, the Deputy Minister announced the entry of British Airways, easyJet, and Edelweiss to commence direct flights from London, Milan, Geneva, and Zurich.“This gives us reason to be optimistic about a successful year for the airline and tourism sectors”, Kvrivishvili said, adding the Government was maintaining its “consistent policy” of promoting Georgia to ensure the arrival of “even more tourists” with purchasing power through increased direct flights.The United Airports of Georgia said Tbilisi International Airport in the country’s capital served 4,8 million passengers, along with 22,715 flights - a 29 percent increase in passenger flow and 30 percent increase in flights from the year before.Meanwhile, Kutaisi International Airport in the country’s west served a total of 1,722,809 passengers last year and handled 5,078 flights. This marked a three percent increase in passenger flow and a one percent increase in the number of flights compared to the previous year, which had recorded 1,671,306 passengers and 5,041 flights.Similarly, Batumi International Airport in the Black Sea resort city achieved a “historic maximum” in passenger numbers last year, serving 951,760 passengers and facilitating 4,144 flights, the UAG said.

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Georgia’s foreign trade sees 8% growth in 2024

According to Geostat, exports totalled 6,560.4 million USD, a 7.8% increase, while imports amounted to 16,868.7 million USD, an 8.1% rise.The negative trade balance for 2024 stood at 10,308.3 million USD, accounting for 44.0% of the total foreign trade turnover.

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Geostat: Inflation calculated using EU methodology reached 2.4% in Dec...

According to Geostat, inflation in December 2024, using this methodology, was 2.4 per cent, which is 0.5 per cent higher than the 1.9 per cent inflation calculated using the national methodology.Regarding individual components, according to the EU HICP methodology, the percentage changes compared to the corresponding period of 2023 are distributed as follows: Food and non-alcoholic beverages – 3.1%; Alcoholic beverages, tobacco – 6.1%; Clothing and footwear – -1.8%; Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels – -2.8%; Furniture, household items and decoration, house maintenance-repair – 1.5%; Healthcare – 4.4%; Transport – -1.4%; Communication – -12.3%; Recreation, entertainment and culture – 2.3%; Education – 5.4%; Hotels, cafes and restaurants – 8.7%; Miscellaneous goods and services – 6.1%.

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Wine exports increased slightly

TOP-5 exporting markets of Georgian wine in 2024: Russia - $176.26 million; Poland - $15.17 million; Kazakhstan - $9.76 million; China - $8.2 million; Germany - $5.57 million. According to a study by the American Association of Wine Economists (AAWE) UN Comtrade, the lowest average export price of 1 liter of Georgian wine in 2000-2023 was in Poland and amounted to 6.78 GEL. According to the association, 6.7% of total Georgian wine exports go to Poland. The next country is Russia, where the largest volume of wine is exported - 69.6% of total exports. The average price of 1 liter of Georgian wine exported to this country is low and amounts to 7.26 GEL.According to Geostat, in 2024, the following companies exported the largest amount of wine to Russia (companies are not ranked by ranking): JSC Badagoni; LLC "Tsinandali Old Cellar"; LLC GVMT Group; LLC Alaverdi Alcoholic Beverage Company; LLC Askaneli Brothers; LLC Dugladze Wine Company; LLC Kakheti Traditional Winery; LLC Kakheti Wine Cellar; LLC Besini Company; LLC Shalvino. In 2024, an unprecedented amount of grapes was processed during the harvest - up to 320 thousand tons, which is approximately 45% more than the same period last year.In total, 600 large wine-producing companies, medium-sized and small wineries were involved in the 2024 grape processing process.

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The EU has officially switched to the USB port.

In 2022, the European Parliament and member states voted overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping alternative charging methods, meaning that all small and medium-sized portable electronic devices sold in the EU must be compatible with USB-C ports.Under the EU rules, consumers can also opt out of receiving a new charger with each device they buy. Laptop manufacturers will face the same rules as of 28 April 2026. Resistance to EU plans to standardise chargers Anna Cavazzini, chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on the Internal Market and Consumer Protection, said in a press statement that this "marks a decisive step towards consumer convenience and environmental responsibility". "These rules are about tackling the tonnes of waste generated by discarded chargers each year and saving an estimated €250 million for EU households by eliminating unnecessary charger purchases each year," Cavazzini added. The Parliament said it will "closely monitor" how manufacturers adapt to these changes. Electronic device manufacturers have long resisted the EU's push to standardise charging technologies. The decision will affect all providers, but most of all, Apple, which initially contested the rules, cited innovation concerns. However, the Big Tech giant started complying with the directive and transitioned to USB-C for its appliances. write an economic article in Georgian from that text.From spring 2026, the obligation will extend to laptops. The new law, adopted by plenary on Tuesday with 602 votes in favour, 13 against and 8 abstentions, is part of a broader EU effort to reduce e-waste and to empower consumers to make more sustainable choices.Regardless of their manufacturer, all new mobile phones, tablets, digital cameras, headphones and headsets, handheld videogame consoles and portable speakers, e-readers, keyboards, mice, portable navigation systems, earbuds and laptops that are rechargeable via a wired cable, operating with a power delivery of up to 100 Watts, will have to be equipped with a USB Type-C port.

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GNERC wrote off up to GEL 2 MLN in unjustified charges from citizens

As of the body, according to the decisions of the Georgian National Energy and Water Regulatory Commission, last year, citizens were charged up to 2 million GEL in groundless amounts. In addition, due to violations of service standards, in accordance with the National Energy and Water Regulatory Commission's regulations, 1,239,570 GEL was issued to citizens by utility companies.More than 90% of the issues were satisfied in favor of citizens by the decisions made by the Georgian National Energy and Water Regulatory Commission. The information about this is released by the National Energy and Water Regulatory Commission itself.The Energy Ombudsman of Georgia reminds citizens to contact the Energy Ombudsman of Georgia or the Energy Ombudsman Service of the Energy Ombudsman of Georgia in case of violation of their rights by electricity, natural gas and water supply utility companies. Consultations are available at the call center number: 16 216.

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The budget for infrastructure projects has doubled

The 2025 budget includes infrastructure expenditures in the following areas: Up to 1.4 billion GEL will be allocated for improving road infrastructure, including up to 900 million GEL for the construction of expressways; Up to 2.6 billion GEL is allocated for improving municipal infrastructure; More than 500 million GEL will be allocated for improving the water supply and sewage sector; More than 1 billion GEL will be allocated for educational infrastructure; More than 150 million GEL is allocated for improving tourism infrastructure; Unlike the previous version of the project, 200 million GEL has been allocated for the construction and rehabilitation of sports infrastructure in accordance with the government program, including the start of construction of a new football stadium in Tbilisi.

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CCI Increased By 5.5% Y-O-Y – Geostat

The change was mainly due to a 2.7 percent decrease in average monthly nominal wages of employees in the construction sector, which contributed -0.53 percentage points to the total index change.As of the document, compared to November 2023 the CCI increased by 5.5 percent. The latter was largely caused by the 24.8 percent increase in average monthly nominal wages of employees in the construction sector and by the 3.0 percent increase in the prices of construction materials, which contributed 3.82 and 1.81 percentage points to the total index change, respectively. Along with this, the Construction Cost Index posted a 19.6 percent increase compared to February 2022.

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Georgian Economy Minister highlights expected 9% economic growth in 20...

While speaking with local media, Davitashvili stressed “there are very few countries in the world that have managed to maintain not nominal but real high economic growth for four years, which is expressed in almost double-digit figures”.“We have planned the economy for the next year conservatively, this is how we plan every year, as we live in a difficult region... We expect economic growth to be six percent in 2025”, the Minister said.In his comments regarding the current situation in the tourism sector, Davitashvili noted the ongoing protest rallies in several districts in Tbilisi against the Government's decision not to include accession talks with the European Union in its agenda until 2028 “have negatively affected” tourism, however, he added “tourist activities in Georgia as a whole have not slowed down”.

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The Occupied Abkhazia Talks About The Seizure of the Vardnil Hydropowe...

Journalist Nizfa Arshba writes that restoration work began two weeks ago at the Vardnil HPP in the Gali district: “The power plant has been cleaned, new equipment has been installed, pontoons have been raised from the river.”People at the power plant say that restoration work at the facility was started two weeks ago by Rezo Zantaria, a member of the so-called parliament of occupied Abkhazia. They say that the facility is his property. However, the separatist authorities of occupied Abkhazia have not released information about the sale or lease of the facility.Journalists are demanding that the so-called Prosecutor’s Office investigate the corruption deal surrounding the facility.

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Georgia Capital lost the most on the London Stock Exchange last week

1736856970 • Finance

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Politics

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Amnesty International calls on laws passed by GD draconian

“The Georgian authorities’ use of newly enacted, draconian legislation to suppress peaceful dissent marks a disturbing escalation in their crackdown on human rights. The laws, hurriedly passed in December 2024, effectively criminalize even symbolic acts of protest, such as placing stickers on public property. These measures are being deliberately wielded to target peaceful protestors and stifle dissenting voices, including journalists, human rights defenders, and political activists.”“The Georgian authorities must urgently release all those detained for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly and conduct prompt, thorough and impartial investigations into all allegations of unlawful and disproportionate use of force by police.”Between 11 and 12 January, more than 20 people — including activists, media workers, and members of the political opposition — were arrested in Tbilisi and Batumi during protests held in solidarity with previously detained pro-European demonstrators.Some, including activists Tsiala Katamidze and Mate Tsentradze, were detained in Batumi under a newly enacted law that prohibits the placing of protest stickers on public buildings. Mzia Amaghlobeli, founder of the media companies Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested twice on 12 January. Initially detained for the administrative “offence” of posting a protest sticker, she was later re-arrested as a criminal suspect, with the charges against her yet to be disclosed. Human rights defender Gia Jvarsheishvili, who previously reported being tortured during detention in December, was also re-arrested on 11 January and later hospitalized.Human rights defenders reported delays in accessing detainees, amid allegations that several of them had been subjected to beatings, ill-treatment, and verbal abuse by police.New legislation that came into effect on 30 December imposed further arbitrary restrictions on the rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly, introducing hefty fines for putting up protest slogans or posters, and granting police the power to detain individuals “preventatively” on suspicion of planning to violate the rules governing public assembly or other laws, for up to 48 hours.

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Georgian FM: PACE co-rapporteurs’ visit “important opportunity” to add...

Speaking to Imedi TV, the official noted the PACE representatives would hold meetings with legislators and Government officials.Co-rapporteurs Claude Kern and Edite Estrela are set to arrive in Tbilisi on Tuesday as part of a fact-finding mission. Their visit, running until Thursday, will assess Georgia’s compliance with its obligations and commitments as a member state of the Council of Europe, the PACE press office said last week.The delegation’s agenda includes meetings with political leaders, Government representatives, civil society organisations, and members of the international community.

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Zourabichvili predicts "two options" to GD

Georgia’s fifth president, Salome Zourabichvili declares that the government is falling apart.Zourabichvili explains that the only way out of the political crisis is through new elections, with no viable alternative.“Elections have no alternative. This is not just a principle but a reality in any country facing such a deep crisis. You cannot emerge from this kind of crisis without elections, and no one can govern a country against its people for long.The government is already disintegrating. There are serious questions within its vertical structure. The police are struggling to accept that they must obey a criminal hierarchy rather than a regular institutional one. No institution or individual who isn’t entirely compromised can endure being controlled in this way, subjected to direct instructions.Today, the ruling party has two options: first, to recognize reality, understand what the Georgian people want, and move towards organizing new elections together with the forces within the country and in line with the existing recommendations. A document is being prepared on this matter and will be practically ready in the coming days.The second option is much more difficult and damaging for the country if anyone in the ruling party truly cares about the nation. It would involve waiting for the complete collapse of the ruling party, which would require a different type of responsibility-sharing. However, this will happen if the ruling party does not acknowledge the joint demands of our people and our partners that nothing in this country can be resolved without new elections.We are prepared for both alternatives, and we will remain ready. This struggle continues, with its main component being the people who are standing on the streets, whom I support as much as I can. These people are not only in Tbilisi but also outside the capital,” Zourabichvili stated.

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"GD" does not lose hope for Trump and encrypts the "Deep State"

“As is known to the public, several states have imposed financial sanctions and visa restrictions on politicians and high-ranking government officials elected by the Georgian people. These decisions should once again be assessed as an anti-Georgian step that undermines the trust of Georgian society in Western institutions,” the statement reads.The Georgian Dream believes that “the deeper the roots of the Global War Party in various countries and the stronger the metastases of the Deep State in a given country, which serves as the main instrument of the Global War Party’s informal influence, the more anti-Georgian the attitude of the respective country is towards the Georgian state and the Georgian people.”“Without exception, every specific politician and bureaucrat who is distinguished by anti-Georgian statements, be it the president, prime minister, parliamentarian, MEP, diplomat or official, is a member of the Deep State chain, which acts not in the interests of the American or European people, but at the behest of the Global War Party,” the party’s statement reads.The ruling party calls the statements of the US president-elect’s team about the destruction of the Deep State in American official structures encouraging.“President Trump declared even before the elections that “either America will destroy the Deep State or the Deep State will destroy America.” The fact is that over the past 4 years, it was the Deep State that was destroying not only America, but also many countries around the world. The Deep State has created the most serious economic problems for the European Union. The Deep State has engulfed many countries around the world in the flames of war. The most severe effect of the Deep State’s patrons was felt on our friendly country, Ukraine. Ukraine, which until 2014 had sovereignty, territorial integrity, peace, and an economy worth almost 200 billion, is practically destroyed today, for which the authors of the Maidan do not take any responsibility,” writes “Dream.”The protests, which began in the fall of 2024 with the demand for new elections by the opposition, intensified and took the form of a civil protest from November 28, right after Irakli Kobakhidze announced at a briefing that he would not put the issue of opening negotiations for accession to the European Union on the agenda until the end of 2028.For the 42nd day, demonstrators have been demanding a return to the path of integration with the European Union and new parliamentary elections.Protests have been repeatedly dispersed by police forces using special forces. More than 500 people have been arrested, more than 40 of whom have been charged with criminal offenses.

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Georgian PM claims dispute between ruling party founder, Credit Suisse...

Kobakhidze claimed a “direct mention” of the case in a document by the United States Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control last week, sanctions against Ivanishvili, supported his allegation of the dispute being politically charged.“A few months ago, we were assured that the dispute with Credit Suisse was purely a commercial matter and had nothing to do with politics. However, we held completely different beliefs and assessments. The recent direct mention of the case in the sanctions document confirmed that the dispute with Credit Suisse is not a commercial issue, but rather a significant political matter”, the Prime Minister told a press conference earlier today.Kobakhidze traced the origins of the conflict back to 2008 and linked it to an alleged misappropriation of Ivanishvili's account that he said had begun after the businessman ceased communications with Georgia’s then-President Mikheil Saakashvili.Kobakhidze asserted the nature of the dispute had been “mischaracterised”, alleging “significant political influences” had “affected management decisions” at Credit Suisse.“The robbery of Ivanishvili's account began in 2008, following his decision to stop communicating with Saakashvili. This break in communication appears to have led to a long-standing case of account robbery that has persisted for many years. Of course, this is not merely a commercial dispute”, he added.Highlighting the devaluation of the bank's shares, Kobakhidze remarked that such a decline suggested a “lack of commercial interest in pursuing the matter”. Instead, he argued, the dispute reflected a “broader narrative of political engagement rather than legitimate business concerns”.“Credit Suisse has severely damaged its reputation due to this dispute. Since 2008, the value of its shares has fallen nearly 100 times, indicating a lack of commercial interest in the matter. From a business perspective, Credit Suisse was not genuinely interested in pursuing this dispute. Instead, it appeared to be driven by political influences affecting the management of the company, which ultimately shaped how the case was handled”, he said.He added “the public will come to their own conclusions about the rest of the matter” on the dispute being allegedly related to politics.