Grape harvest, budget cuts, renovation projects in focus at gov’t meeting
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. Photo: government's press office.
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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.
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.
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Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevicius has vowed firm support for Georgia’s Euro-Atlantic integration and anti-occupation policy while meeting with the new prime minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia.
The new PM of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia has held his first official meeting with acting US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs Philip Reeker in Tbilisi earlier today, stating that the country’s Euro-Atlantic integration and further strengthening of relations with the US are the major goals of the new cabinet.
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Pensions, disability payments and teachers’ salaries will be significantly increased in 2020, Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia said at a special session of the government today. Gakharia said that the pension will increase by 20 GEL ($6.8/€6.2) for pensioners and for the first and second category of people with disabilities up to the age of 18.
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Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia has met with economic experts today to ask what type of problems they see in the Georgian economy and also discussed the state budget 2020 and exchange rate problems with them.