TBILISI, October 8 – A new round of planned tax increases in Russia could make imported wines, especially those from Georgia, significantly more expensive for Russian consumers, industry experts warn. Under a proposal submitted to the State Duma on September 29, the Russian government plans to raise excise taxes on all alcoholic beverages starting in … Read more
TBILISI, October 6 – Khvanchkara is known as one of Stalin’s favorites, and in the remote mountain region of Racha, in northern Georgia, the annual ‘rtveli’ is in full swing, a cultural ritual to harvest the grapes for the famous wine. So far, 120 tons of grapes have been processed in Ambrolauri municipality, according to … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Russia has become Georgia’s third-largest trading partner this year, with bilateral turnover reaching USD 1.7 billion between January and August, according to official data from the National Statistics Office of Georgia (GeoStat). The figure marks a 4.3% increase compared to last year and accounts for 10.5% of Georgia’s overall trade. Imports … Read more
TBILISI, October 3 – Chinese state-owned companies have won contracts to build many of Georgia’s biggest road projects, but a debate is brewing about fair competition and the future of the country’s own building industry. According to Georgia’s BPN, six of the ten largest road contractors operating in 2024 were Chinese. That dominance has raised … Read more
TBILISI, October 2 – Average monthly salaries in Georgia’s business sector rose sharply in 2024, reaching 2,024.4 lari (about USD 750), according to new data from the National Statistics Office (Sakstat). The figure represents an increase of 197.2 lari compared to 2023, reflecting one of the largest year-on-year jumps in recent years. Pay varied significantly … Read more
TBILISI, October 1 – Georgia’s state-owned Enguri hydropower plant lost 45 million lari (about 16 million US dollars) in revenue last year by supplying free electricity to residents of Abkhazia, according to a Finance Ministry report attached to the draft 2026 state budget. The losses are not new. In 2023, the figure reached 40 million … Read more
TBILISI, October 1 – Georgia exported 2,900 tons of hazelnuts worth 24.7 million US dollars between August 1 and September 28 this year. Compared to the same period in 2024, the export value jumped by 36 percent, or 6.6 million dollars. The average export price for this one of the country’s most important export articles … Read more
TBILISI, September 30 – Georgia’s central bank president Natia Turnava has stepped into the global spotlight at Swift’s flagship Sibos conference, in a push to integrate more deeply with Western-led financial networks, seeming to counter criticism abroad that describes Georgia’s ruling party as drifting closer to Moscow. Since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, Swift has … Read more
TBILISI, September 30 – Georgia’s apple exports have shot up this season, with both volume and value climbing sharply, according to the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. Between August 1 and September 28, the country exported 906 tons of apples worth USD 698,000. That’s a 65% jump in volume, 356 tons more than last … Read more
TBILISI, September 25 – Georgia is preparing a major expansion of its deposit insurance system, lifting the guaranteed payout ceiling from 30,000 to 50,000 lari (about USD 18,000) starting April 1, 2026. The Deposit Insurance Agency announced the move this week, marking the third increase since the scheme was launched in 2018. When the system … Read more