Additional 58 highland villages near Tskhinvali occupation line to receive economic benefits through Mountain Law
More than 25,000 inhabitants of 58 villages will receive these benefits. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
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People living in highland villages near the occupation line between Georgia and its Russian-occupied region of Tskhinvali (South Ossetia) will soon get benefits granted by the Mountain Law, announced Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at today's government meeting.
More than 25,000 inhabitants of 58 villages will receive these benefits.
The aim of [the Mountain Law] is to improve social conditions of [people living in the villages of highland areas]," said Gakharia.
The major development of Georgian mountainous regions started with the launch of the Mountain Law in Georgia, which came into force in July 2016.
The aim of the Mountain Law is to encourage people to live and work in the country’s mountainous regions.
Additional benefits were added for people living in highland areas in 2019:
- Georgian pensioners older than 70 years old and who reside in the country’s highland areas will be paid a pension of 263 GEL ($94.4/€84.7) from January 1, 2020 and of 300 GEL ($107.7/€96.6) from July 1, 2020
- Georgian businesses located in highland areas now will have the right to sell their goods not only in highland areas, but also in the whole territory of Georgia and will also be able to export their goods outside the county without losing their “highland business” status and thus without canceling their preferential tax status
Mountain Law came into force in July 2016. Photo: Nino Alavidze/Agenda.ge.
Some of the other benefits people in Georgia's mountainous areas enjoy:
- Each family in the country’s mountain regions receive 100 GEL ($35.9/€32.2) monthly financial aid from the state for two years following the birth of every newborn child. This financial aid increases to 200 GEL ($71.8/€64.4) for every third, fourth and subsequent children
- Mountain residents enjoy a non-taxable income if their salary is 6,000 GEL ($2,154/€1,932) or lower
- Individuals and legal entities in mountain regions are exempted from profit tax for 10 years. Also, those who permanently live in a mountain region are exempted from property tax for any land they own
- Doctors in mountain regions receive a supplemental salary twice as high as the state pension, while nurses receive a supplemental salary as high as the state pension
- People living in the mountain regions enjoy 20% higher pensions and social assistance
- The government partially funds heating expenses for the mountain population during winter months
- Teachers in mountain regions enjoy a supplemental salary as high as at least 35% of their original salary
Georgia has updated its list of high mountainous settlements, meaning that locals of six more villages will enjoy special financial benefits, which will help them improve their living conditions and develop local small and medium-sized business.
Georgian pensioners older than 70 years old and who reside in the country’s highland areas will be paid a pension of 263 GEL ($90.41/€81.65) from January 1, 2020 and of 300 GEL ($103.13/€93.14) from July 1, 2020, announced Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia at a presentation held on the occasion of International Mountain Day earlier today.
Georgian businesses located in highland areas now will have the right to sell their goods not only in highland areas, but also in the whole territory of Georgia and will also be able to export their goods outside the county without losing their “highland business” status and thus without canceling their preferential tax status, announced the Ministry of Finance.
The Hub for Healthy Gastronomy and Organic Products in the Mountains (GRETA Hub) has launched in Tsageri, a small mountainous town in western Georgia’s Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region.
The European Union, Sweden and Austria have allocated €1.16 million under the Local Development Initiative (LDI) to support the organic agriculture sector of Georgia.
In total 59 settlements, including 19 across the occupation line, will receive highland status in Georgia, which will benefit about 26,000 inhabitants with improved social conditions, announced Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia at today's government meeting.
The villages of Odzisi (a village on the occupation line) and Prezeti in Georgia’s eastern region of Mtskheta-Mtianeti will receive highland status, which will benefit about 1,200 inhabitants with improved social conditions, announced Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze.