Grape harvest, budget cuts, renovation projects in focus at gov’t meeting

The state budget should be citizen-oriented and the social responsibility of the state should be taken into account, Georgian PM Giorgi Gakharia announced at today's government meeting.

Gakharia spoke about the most important components of the 2020 budget.

Infrastructure is an important component of the budget and capital spending will increase… Of course, we should keep the principle of reducing bureaucratic spending”, Gakharia said.

Gakharia also discussed the grape harvest process in Kakheti and said that despite challenges, the crop should be stored in time.

[The government] is well aware of the challenges that exist in Kakheti…[but despite the challenges] the harvest should be stored timely, ”Giorgi Gakharia said.

In August 2019, National Wine Agency Chairman Levan Mekhuzla said that the harvest may be affected by earlier anticipated Russian sanctions on the import of Georgian wines, and thus a decrease in demand on grapes this year. 

Producers say that they will buy less grapes than planned, as they might have problems selling wine”, said Mekhuzla. 

• Georgian National Wine Agency: Georgia faces challenging grape harvest season

Gakharia also spoke about the complete renovation of Gudiashvili Square and said that soon, one more important tourist destination would be added to Tbilisi.

Gudiashvili square is located in the old part of the Georgian capital; renovation of the square began back in March 2018, and was carried out by the Tbilisi Development Fund.