SME business owners to be exempt from lease payments for 3 months throughout Georgia

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.

The decision has been made in order to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the business.

Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has stated earlier today that 600 SMEs who have businesses in Tbilisi will not have to pay rent for three months.

• Gov’t presents coronavirus anti-crisis plan for Georgian business: What support can business expect?

The government of Georgia responded to the demand of the hotels, restaurants, tourist agencies and tour operators in Georgia and presented an anti-crisis plan for Georgian businesses on March 13, according to which payment of property and income taxes have been postponed by four months.

The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia said that this will benefit 18,000 companies and 50,000 employees.

Since February 26, 2020 Georgia has had 40 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with one already recovered and discharged.