Shopping malls, branded retailers demand permission to operate between Dec 15 - Jan 3

Shopping malls and branded retailers have released a joint statement today, demanding the Georgian government allow them to operate between December 15 to January 3.

• Georgian gov’t introduces further coronavirus restrictions until Jan. 31

City Mall, Tbilisi Mall, East Point, Tbilisi Central, Gldani Mall, Karvasla, Retail Group Georgia, ICR Holding, LC Waikiki GE, Dressup Group and Gtex jointly state that they are ready to increase the Covid-safety measures and regulate the flow of customers. 

The restrictions imposed by the government on the operation of commercial facilities from November 28 to December 24 and then from January 3 to February 1 put at risk the existence of at least 25,000 jobs in the country and hundreds of small and medium-sized businesses. The Georgian economy and retail sector will suffer losses of about 1 billion GEL during this period, which will put tens of thousands of families in dire conditions. 

The state budget will not receive hundreds of millions in revenue in the form of various taxes and will significantly shake the confidence of international investors who have invested more than $500 million in this field", reads the statement.

• State-owned enterprises in Georgia lose about 130 mln GEL due to pandemic

In addition, shopping malls and branded retailers demand to be exempted from the property tax that the government deferred for the sector in July 2020. 

The statement reads that all resources are already 'wasted in full, in advance and in excess'. 

Businesses will not be able to retain employees under operating restrictions. Virtually all shopping malls and retail outlets face the problem of servicing current bank liabilities and the need for further restructuring of loans is on the agenda", reads the statement.

• How will the gov't support businesses amid the new coronavirus restrictions?

Shopping malls and branded retailers say that they ensure one of the safest environments and none of the shopping malls have become the source of the spread of the infection so far.