Private business to contribute to Georgia's coronavirus efforts
Private sector and governmental agencies will work together to provide resources to socially vulnerable groups in Georgia. Photo: Nino Alavidze/agenda.ge.
Tweet 
Share
Companies involved in Georgia's private sector will contribute to efforts against the new coronavirus outbreak, with the government providing a platform for pooling the joint resources.
Over 30 companies have been confirmed to take part in the latest move to combat a spread of the virus in the country, with the combined project launched on initiative by Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia.
To be coordinated by the office of the Business Ombudsman Mikheil Daushvili, the efforts will involve "various resources", including financial assistance, from private business.
The ombudsman unveiled a platform bringing information on the contributions together on Wednesday and said ministries would work to identify areas requiring resources, with the private sector then get involved.
Some of the areas the companies will be taking part in include provision of medication in low supply and other products.
Daushvili said the contributions would be aimed at socially vulnerable groups facing risks of the virus, and called the move an "example of efficient relationship" between government and business.
Around 10 Georgian companies have launched production of face masks in a move to prevent an outbreak of the new coronavirus, with the first batch set to be purchased by the government.
Georgia’s Ministry of Health has given 30 artificial respirators to the Central Republican Hospital in Tbilisi, where patients with the new coronavirus - COVID-19 symptoms are under the observation of doctors.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Levan Davitashvili says that there is no risk of food shortages in Georgia due to the coronavirus. Davitashvili met the heads of the large supermarkets earlier today to discuss food stocks and the issue of price regulation.
Georgia confirmed four new cases of coronavirus earlier today, with the total number of infected individuals in the country standing at 37. Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19. However, one patient has recovered and was discharged. Director of Tbilisi Hospital of Infections Diseases Marina Ezugbaia said that the new patients had contact with one of the individuals who tested positive for the respiratory infection earlier and is now in hospital.
Georgian citizens have gathered at their balconies at 9 pm today to applaud healthcare professional, who have been preventing the spread of COVID-19 in Georgia. Since February 26, 2020, Georgia had 38 confirmed cases of COVID-19, however, the first patient who has recovered has been discharged.
Small and medium-size business owners (SMEs) who have leased municipality-owned areas for their business activities have been made exempt from lease payments for three months to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the business, Mayor of Tbilisi, Kakha Kaladze stated today.
A price restraint mechanism is ready and has been agreed upon between business and the government. Specifically, prices for nine products will not increase in Georgia, said the Prime Minister’s Spokesperson Irakli Chikovani earlier today.
The Georgian Prime Minister’s spokesman Irakli Chikovani has stated today that small and medium-size business owners (SMEs) who have leased municipality-owned areas for their business activities have been made exempt from lease payments for three months in all municipalities of Georgia.
Some changes are being applied to the entry requirements for truck drivers from coronavirus high-risk countries. If a driver from the coronavirus high-risk country is transporting goods through the territory of Georgia to a third country, they will be escorted by the Patrol Police between the entry and exit customs crossing points of Georgia. When importing goods to Georgia, there are two possible scenarios for drivers upon arrival to the country.
Enterprise Georgia is starting a new programme today to cofinance family-owned, small and medium-size hotels in Georgia. The programme will seek to alleviate financial problems in the tourism industry due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The World Bank projects Georgian economic growth to slow sharply this year, coming close to zero percent in 2020 due to the challenging external environment and impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. It also forecasts Georgian fiscal deficit (a shortfall in a government's income compared with its spending) to be around 5.2 per cent of the gross domestic product (GDP) in 2020.