PM Garibashvili: 2021 was challenging but successful year
Garibashvili emphasised that the Georgian government’s main task will be to double economic growth, stating that in 2022 the country’s economy will reach its maximum of about 65 billion GEL. Photo: Government of Georgia press office.
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Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili has stated that 2021 was a challenging but successful year, noting that the country has concluded the year with double-digit economic growth, more than five million vaccine doses imported, and ‘fair, competitive and free’ municipal elections held in October.
Garibashvili told Imedi TV channel yesterday that the Georgian Dream (GD) party ended the ‘artificially created political crisis’ in Georgia with its victory in local self-government elections, adding that the country ‘calmed down and a strong foundation was created to make 2022 much stronger and more successful.’
The GD mayoral candidates won in all self-governing cities and municipalities, except for Tsalenjikha, in municipal election run-offs held on October 30, and garnered 47% of the vote in the proportional part of the race in the October 2 municipal elections, while losing the majority in seven out of 64 municipalities.
Garibashvili also said that one of his biggest dreams is to overcome poverty in the country and therefore he has initiated a new programme for socially vulnerable citizens to provide them with jobs instead of social assistance.
We will have to allocate about 100 million GEL in the first stage and then increase it, naturally, in order to pay these people a decent salary,” Garibashvili said.
He also stressed the importance of a recently adopted bill which regulates online gambling and imposes additional restrictions on the business.
According to the law, online gambling businesses will see up to a 70% increase in taxes, gambling advertisements will be banned completely and the lower age limit for gamblers will increase to 25 years of age.
Garibashvili stated that 1.5 billion GEL of ‘our population’s money is spent on gambling,’ calling it a ‘disaster and a crime,’ saying that the government should offer those who gamble jobs and involve them in a ‘healthy lifestyle.’
He also touched on the issue of domestic water supply, saying that ‘it is a shame and a crime that our cities and people in the 21st century do not have a 24-hour water supply,’ noting that in 2024-2025 the issue will be completely solved.
Garibashvili emphasised that the Georgian government’s main task will be to double economic growth, stating that in 2022 the country’s economy will reach its maximum of about 65 billion GEL.