Caucasus Business Week #302

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BUSINESS caucasus

November 4, 2019 - www.cbw.ge

#302

WEEK

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A Disputable Labor Code

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Georgia to introduce New System of Manufacturer’s Extended Obligations

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Asian Development Bank about Economic Situation and Business Environment in Georgia

Reason for Happiness if Georgia remains in Top Ten of Doing Business – Business on World Bank Report

Jazz Club Singer - Movement that brings Jazz to the City

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New Agricultural Machines and Rural Sector Challenges

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Infrastructure Minister on Tskaltubo Project: Revived Resort will bring Unprecedented Effect onto Our Region As to infrastructural projects, the Minister talked about construction of houses for refugees and other ongoing works.

Total Stock of Outstanding Georgian Bonds increased by 41% The total stock of outstanding Georgian bonds increased by 41% Y-o-Y (32% excluding FX effect) by the end of 3Q2019, mainly on the back of local corporate bonds and Eurobonds.

5th Awarding Ceremonial of Welcome to Georgia! holds on December 6 High-speed Trains to operate on Baku-Tbilisi-Baku Route Baku-Tbilisi-Baku route will be operated by French high-speed train.

According to Azerbaijani media, the Baku-Tbilisi-Baku passenger transport will be carried by Prima M4 passenger train for the first time.

Welcome to Georgia! Tourism National 5th Award ceremony will hold on in Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace on December 6th.

And Then We Danced won Audience Award at Chicago Film Fest "And Then We Danced" wins the Audience Award for Best Foreign Language Film at the Chicago Film Fest.

Two Years on, Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line carries 275,000 Tons of Freight The railway line connecting Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, establishing a freight and passenger link between Europe and China, has carried 275,000 tons of freight.

Zugdidi Botanical Garden Rehabilitation to end in November According to Municipal Development Fund, in November Zugdidi Botanical Garden rehabilitation works will be finished.

TBC Capitalization exceeds 720.3 million GBP

Cinema Exhibition on November 4 at Amirani Cinema

The price of one share of TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN) at London Stock Exchange (LSE) made up 12.4213.45 GBP in the last trading session week.

Amirani Cinema and British Embassy in Tbilisi present, as a part of the Event Cinema project, Exhibition on Screen: The Impressionists.

Commercial Banks take over Properties of 182 million GEL from Borrowers The property of borrowers has increased at the banking sector.

The Editorial Board Follows Press Freedom Principles Publisher: LLC Caucasian Business Week - CBW Director: Levan Beglarishvili WWW.CBW.GE Address: Aleksidze Street 1 Sales: Mob: +995 591 01 39 36 Email: caucasianbusiness@gmail.com Editor: Nutsa Galumashvili. Mobile phone: 595 380382 Copy Editor: Ellie Rambo Reporters: Nina Gomarteli; Mariam Kopaliani; Merab Janiashvili, Economic columnist: Andria Gvidiani; Technical Assistant: Giorgi Kheladze;

Radisson Collection Hotel Tsinandali Estate has hosted the 3rd Annual Planners Xtraordinairè Show The 3rd Edition of Planners Xtraordinare show gathering leading event planners from around the world took place in Kakheti from October 22-24th. Last year the event was held successfully in Italy, Lake Como. This year Radisson Collection Hotel Tsinandali Estate has won the competition among other premium deluxe hotels of the world chosen as the “hottest destination” of the region with the perfect mixture of unique location, rich history, sophisticated design and a big variety of outstanding venues.

Over 200 global luxury event specialists from 40 countries were attending the show among them were renowned luxury wedding and party planners, wedding designers, creative visual artists, local and

global hotel representatives.

The three days event included workshops, sessions, networking panels, B2B meetings, conferences and amazing show in the amphitheatre of Radisson Collection Hotel, Tsinandali Estate. The guests were welcomed to experience the magical entertainment and participate in numerous incredible and stunning performances presented by the Italian group Nuart.

Magnificent gala dinner design was created by Vanilla events and conferences were decorated by Georgian Events company.

The annual event is a great opportunity for luxury special event planners to network and engage in one-on-one meetings through appointments with top event suppliers and get insights into the luxury special events sector.

The Planners Xtraordinaire show and congress was a perfect reason for guests to explore Georgia and Kakheti region and the scenic venues the country has to offer while discussing trends and developments in the luxury event space.

Hosting such a high profile events will promote Georgia and Kakheti region as a wonderful destination not only to travel as well as organize Luxuries and Special events.

Photography by: Dito Tediashvili

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A Disputable Labor Code The bill of amendments to the Labor Code aims to restore the lost balance between employees and employers, and pull Georgian business and the economy toward modern standards, the author of the bill, Dimitri Tskitishvili told the BusinessPartner TV Program.

The balance in labor relations was violated in 2006, when, under the pretext of labor market deregulation, the Labor Inspection was abolished, and employers were left to control the whole process. Consequently, the bill of amendments to the Labor Code aims to restore the lost balance, he noted.

“The abolition of Labor Inspection disrupted the balance and the labor market was entirely deregulated.

This was an unprecedented decision in, not only Georgia, but worldwide.

Our system became one of the most deregulated systems in the world.

As a result, employers lost all legal guarantees in legislation, and the balance was shifted on behalf of employers”, Dimitri Tskitishvili said.

Market liberalization has not brought any efficient results in terms of either investments or employment, as predicted initially.

On the contrary, according to the statistics, in 2007-2008 unemployment rose to 15%. As for investments, the inflow increased in certain segments, but no breakthrough was recorded. In turn, the number of work accidents has increased dramatically, he said.

“Market deregulation has not brought a real breakthrough, while labor rights and labor safety deteriorated, and the number of work accidents rose significantly, and, finally we have a dramatic situation. Now, this bill is meant

to restore the balance, and move Georgian business and the economy to a new level of development, to which Georgia has been aspiring.

The European Union is not only a geopolitical option. It is the choice of our society to follow regulations that bring welfare, appreciate the job of each person”, Dimitri Tskitishvili said.

In response to the question of whether the planned changes may increase shadowy employment and surge prices, because the business sector will have to compensate with increased costs through prices, Tskitishvili noted that these amendments are only meant to improve working conditions, because the existing legislation gives a competitive advantage to a dishonest business, on the one hand, and legalizes slave labor, on the other hand.

“These amendments are not intended to either increase or decrease the unemployment rate.

They are to ensure the creation of worthy jobs and improve working conditions. Regretfully, the legislation allows dishonest bodies to maintain advantages over the honest organizations, because if the dishonest business saves money on staff development, human capital development, ensuring safe and respectful working conditions, while the honest business takes similar costs anyway, the dishonest actors may obtain a competitive advantage.

These amendments are to prevent dishonest actors from legalizing slave labor. I am making a very strict statement, but the current legislation allows us to legalize slave labor”, Dimitri Tskitishvili told BusinessPartner.

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Asian Development Bank about Economic Situation and Business Environment in Georgia Georgia’s investment environment, sectors with the major and most important challenges, and their solution mechanisms - Werner Liepach, director general of ADB department for Central and Western Asia, analyzes these issues for BusinessPartner TV:

the authorities should make the profession of a teacher more attractive, including in terms of salaries.

At the same time, for acquiring good professional skills, you need modern-standard laboratories, work places, where people will use their skills in practical life.

How would you appraise Georgia’s investment environment?

What is your opinion about the Anaklia Deepwater seaport? Is it an important project for Georgia and why?

Georgia has one of the best investment environments in the region; however, there are several challenges, too. Doing business is simple in Georgia, and the World Bank (WB) ratings also prove this consideration, but you need to satisfy several other conditions to make the country investment-friendly, and sometimes, these components are not satisfactory. I mean infrastructural issues and human resources. That is why ADB has been taking active steps in Georgia. We have been making investments in improving the mentioned directions.

The Asian Development Bank has implemented large-scale projects in Georgia. Which one is your priority project?

At this stage, we place focus on infrastructure projects; namely, transport infrastructure and our priorities coincide with the priorities of Georgian government, including the completion of the East-West highway that will enable one to drive from Tbilisi to Batumi in 4 hours. We have also been building the MtskhetaStepantsminda-Larsi highway, namely, the Kvesheti-Kobi section.

Besides infrastructural projects, the development of human resources and skills is one of our priority field, namely, making investments in the education sector. When you decide to provide hospitality services, for instance, in the hotel business, your hotel may be beautiful and comfortable, but lacking desirable services and this component requires special skills.

Does Georgia have problems in the education sector?

Any country has challenges in education sector. One of the challenges comes from a lack of competitive teachers. Sometimes, I think young people care only for earning money, and teachers do not have opportunities to achieve these objective. Therefore,

There are many reasons why your country needs this project, including shipping, transportation, trade. Your geopolitical location allows the country to become a transit and trade hub. The Anaklia deepwater seaport is important for not only the Georgian economy, but it has a regional importance too, including for Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan. Now the key question is, how quickly the seaport will be built.

First, the consortium needs to attract investments. When implementing similar projects, the private sector is a key field, not the public sector. You need a major sponsor, someone with huge experience in building and managing seaports. I think the Anaklia seaport project's sponsor should be selected cautiously and carefully. This process may take a long time, but this is more expedient. The precise economic calculations are another issue – what kind of cargo will be transported, from which countries, what economic benefits we will receive and so on. Naturally, all these issues require the government’s efficient support.

Is there probability that ADB join the project implementation?

Everything is possible. We back the project's implementation.

However, there are certain challenges and circumstances, which we discuss at multiple meetings and forums. We have experience in other fields. We have, jointly, built a pipeline in Turkmenistan, Afghanistan, Pakistan and India. For about 10 years, we were conducting discussions over the issue and finally, all plans were implemented – the pipeline has been constructed. Everything should be done in a timely manner. At the same time, there are issues that should be analyzed for many years. Anaklia is a megaproject, and I believe one day this seaport will be constructed.

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Georgia to introduce New System of Manufacturer’s Extended Obligations

Natakhtari Commercial Director Nikoloz Khundzakishvili

The business sector suggests that the authorities follow an evolutionary path towards introducing a system of extended obligations for businesses, Natakhtari commercial director Nikoloz Khundzakishvili told the BusinessPartner TV. The new regulations aim to remove waste from production and from the market, and the manufacturers are obliged to fulfill this process themselves.

The new system is an obligation that Georgia has assumed as part of the EU association agreement.

Moreover, it is a part of Georgia’s environmental protection policy.

The issue of the introduction of the extended obligations of manufacturers is not up for debate and the business sector entirely agrees with this obligation.

However, to successfully implement the reform, it should be carried out gradually, in an evolutionary way, like it happened in EU countries, Khundzakishvili said.

“The manufacturer’s extended obligations are a part of our environmental protection policy on how to manage production waste, including remaining packing materials, vehicles, lubricants supplied to the market, and so on. It is not important in this specific case whether we recycle or sell these products later. For example, when you drink Natakhtari lemonade and the empty bottle remains, I, as the manufacturer, am obliged to collect these bottles and create the necessary infrastructure to this end. Information about this was made public on September 1, 2014, when the association agreement came into force. The industry started talking about this from day one. is a well-known method in the EU, and this is the best solution for removing production wastes from environment”, Khundzakishvili said.

The first obligation under this reform calls for establishing a collective organization, and this component of the legislation was to come into effect on December 1, 2019, but the enforcement was rescheduled for September 1, 2020. This obligation will be met, definitely, because the postponement provides enough

time for fulfilling this obligation.

Therefore, in this situation, the main thing is that the authorities prepare a model for a waste removal system, and introduce this model to the business sector, Khundzakishvili said.

“There is no obstacle to fulfilling this obligation. Therefore, now, the authorities should build up and offer the system up in the form of regulations”, Khundzakishvili noted.

Two main systems are run in the EU: a separated system (various types of wastes, for example, placing bottles in separate bins) and the so-called deposit system, when the market price is added to the ready-made products, and the consumers pay a higher price.

For example, the bottle costs 20 Tetri, and consumers take back this surplus price, when returning the packing material/bottle to special centers, Khundzakishvili explained.

The deposit system is one of the best models for collecting wastes, but it is very expensive, and even EU countries moved to this system after 20-25 years of practice. It is worth noting that not all European countries have introduced this system. Therefore, it will be expedient for Georgia to follow this evolutionary way, introduce a classical separated method, and then move to the deposit model, Khundzakishvili added.

“Our business suggests that the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture to start with evolution and classical separated method of collection.

If we do not start today, we will never be ready. During commencement, I mean that we should conduct information campaigns, and this is the obligation of our industry. We should urge people, through advertisements, including social advertisements, and accustom them to the separated collection of waste. We keep up good, easy communications with the Agriculture Ministry, and I can assure you that we will bring real results. The industry will be ready at any moment, as soon as we start, because without this start, we will never be ready”, Khundzakishvili noted.

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Reason for Happiness if Georgia remains in Top Ten of Doing Business – Business on World Bank Report Georgia ranks 7th among 190 countries in the 2020 Doing Business rating that was published by World Bank (WB). It should be noted that Georgia has lost one position in the rating compared to the previous year, because the country ranked 6th in the 2019 report.

At the same time, Georgia’s score in the 2020 rating is 83.7, up 0.2 points compared to the 2019 report. The rating is prepared based on 10 indicators; including, Georgia has earned additional points in five indicators and maintained other 5 indicators unchanged.

Georgia has recorded the best indicator in terms of starting a business. In this respect the country ranks 2nd worldwide and only New Zealand is ahead. Georgia ranks 5th in terms of property registration and 7th in terms of protection of rights of minority investors.

According to the WB report, in terms of construction licenses, Georgia has improved the quality of construction works through growing publicity of information.

New Zealand ranks first in the Doing Business simplicity with 86.8 points.

The country is followed by Singapore, Hong-Kong, Denmark, South Korea and the USA. Besides Georgia, the list of top ten countries also includes Great Britain, Norway and Sweden. Among 190 countries, the last three places were assigned to Venezuela, Eritrea and Somali. As to Georgia’s neighbors, Armenia ranks 47th, Azerbaijan is 34th, Turkey is 33rd and Russia ranks 28th.

“This is a long-term guarantee that the country follows a right strategy”, Natakhtari corporate director Nikoloz Khundzakishvili noted regarding the 2020 Doing Business rating. Being among top ten countries is a good indicator. Similar surveys are vey important, because the part of investors always takes into account similar reports when making investment decisions, he said.

“The 6th or 7th place is the same, in practice. The main thing is that we remain among top ten countries. This is a credit rating, but we want to move forward to the so-called investment rating that will enable to have investment-friendly conditions and environment. At the certain stage, we will make progress in this direction too. Naturally, starting a business in Georgia is very simple. The major challenge consists in absence of bankruptcy legislation, the basis that would foster business sector development. This is one of the obstacles and according to our information, the Authorities have been working to tackle this problem.

Wrongly prepared regulations can bring many negative effects”, Nikoloz Khundzakishvili said.

Redix Group founder Lasha Papashvili also agrees with this consideration and assures that the part of investors genuinely take into account the WB report.

“Indeed, investors take the rating into consideration. However, I am sure the national currency devaluation is the worst thing happening. Investors pay more attention to this latter factor. They are cautious even if you are the best, but make certain wrong things. It is not our interest to excessively strengthen LARI. Therefore, we should foster GEL appreciation based on macroeconomic parameters. We should be happy, because we remain among the Doing Business top ten countries. If air traffic is resumed with Russia, this will be the best culmination”, Lasha Papashvili said.

Businessman Dvid Kodua also appraises the WB report. He thinks that Doing Business is simple in Georgia, despite frustrations in certain sectors.

“I am a developer, but I do not have construction licenses. Business has serious potential in Georgia, but Kaladze does not issue construction license, because he lives nearby and he has promised his neighbors not to allow the construction works. I do not know what they mean in doing business. If they make focus on tax code, there are no problems. It is genuinely simple to do business in Georgia, the main thing is that you should not have to obtain a construction license next to Kaladze’s house”, David Kodua noted.

According to the 2020 Doing Business rating, Georgian remains among top ten countries and this is a wonderful fact. We have obtained maximum point and almost in all indicators, we have made progress, Giorgi Pertaia, president of Georgian Chamber of Commerce and Industry noted.

‘As to starting a business, everybody knows in the world that we are leaders in this indicator. The WB has reaffirmed this year that there are only two countries in the world, Georgia and New Zealand, where starting a business is the fastest and simplest”, Giorgi Pertaia noted.

According to Pertaia, similar reports are very important, because the majority of investors worldwide take them into consideration. Investors seeing that Georgia along with Denmark is leader in Europe in simplicity of doing business collect more information about Georgia and the probability of making investments in our country grows. “Everything starts from the interest and perception. Our country needs higher perception. Therefore, similar ratings are of crucial importance for us”, Giorgi Pertaia noted.

He also analyzed the current situation in the region and noted that Azerbaijan has also improved its position in the WB rating and moved to the list of top reformatory countries and ranks 34th in the rating.

“Our objective is to become a regional hub. The fact our neighbors also simplify business procedures, including in terms of cargo transportation on borders will improve the situation in the whole region. This will attract more investors to Georgia and help the country become a regional hub”, Giorgi Pertaia said.

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Lado Tsimakuridze: "Today's Marketing Approach has changed Completely" Interview with Master of Social Sciences, Head of the Marketing Department at “Khareba Winery”, Lado Tsimakuridze.

Tell us about how you got into the field of marketing, and what factors played an important role in choosing this profession?

The marketers of my generation can be considered pioneers, because we are one of the first generation of marketers in Georgia to enter the marketing and PR industry in the early 2000s. To be honest, the beginning of the 2000s in our country can be considered a landmark in terms of the introduction and development of modern marketing and PR in Georgia. I started my PR career in 2000, and my professors were internationally experienced and qualified PR professionals Ms. Marika Darchia and Mr. Nika Makharashvili, who were probably two of the first to introduce PR in Georgia.

After completing my PR degree in 2004, I continued to study for a master's degree in the social sciences and received a master's degree in social sciences, traveled to Romania for one year to pursue qualifications in marketing, and completed a marketing course. Later, I received a Marketing Certificate in the Eastern Partnership, Culture, Science and Creativity Program, and then with EBRD funding I went to Austria for a Management Certificate course at the Joint Vienna Institute.

Why I chose marketing and PR, I can say a lot about it, but the main thing is that both of these specialties combine very interesting and attractive aspects for me: art in its very broadest and most versatile sense, psychology, sociology, and many other scientific fields. Marketing and PR is a distinctive, wide-ranging and specific professions, which evenly cover the arts and science as well.

What challenges do you face as a leader in marketing, during a time of technological change?

The 21st century is indeed full of special challenges. In this era of digitalization, the forms, means and capabilities of communication are remarkably diverse. Consequently, modern marketing, too, is showing the world its full range of opportunities, from the creation of the product, to the birth of the brand, to the establishment and further development of its market. At the same time, enormously increased competitive environment, accelerated communication, decision rates and communication with customers are so diverse, direct and strong so as to keep them in touch with a challenge to a marketer, and has to carefully control their attitudes, reactions, feedback, behavior, general market volatility and tend.

This is good on the one hand, since in a short period of time, with diverse marketing communication, tasks can be effectively resolved, goals can be reached quickly, but on the other hand, as such a pace also presents other challenges, involving an active, massive and continuous cycle of marketing and PR events. A significant increase in expenses, as well as increased risks, responsibilities, workflow, agility and responsiveness required to manage various marketing processes. Marketing has, in the last 15 years, added a new and very powerful field, such as digital marketing, which provides endless opportunities for direct, effective communication with customers and their behavior, interests and feedback analysis. A consumers' daily, close proximity and communication, combined with control and analysis of their reactions, emotions, feedback, satisfaction, or dissatisfaction, allow for precise brand auditing and higher-quality management than was possible 15-20 years ago, and consequently one of the main challenges is to learn more about your customer; their proximity, their expectations and a behavioral analysis, and most importantly, continuous communication with them. On the other hand, the main challenge of marketers themselves is that modern marketing does not forgive even the smallest professional mistake, which can lead to irreparable results, thus requiring high qualification, professionalism, attention to detail, creativity and catchip up with modern trends.

What has changed in the field in the last 5 years, and what changes are expected?

The field of marketing is constantly evolving and, as I mentioned above, it offers new trends and tendencies.

Many details determine its development and advancement. Marketing has generally undergone numerous developments and conversion phases in the last century, amid changing technological and consumer behaviors.

If Dominion was a product that consumers were looking for in the 20th Century, due to relatively low competition, today's marketing approach has absolutely changed, as today the brand is looking for its niche and customers.

There are not many such free niches left, thus marketing has to create innovative, exciting and attractive brands, and then find and retain customers, win over loyal segments of the competitors, and also attract neutral, new consumer groups.

What do you think are the most important traits a marketing manager should have, and what is his or her role

in the organization in general?

I will focus on some important features and try to explain why I think they’re important: • Freedom, boldness, creativity, and openness- because thinking within frameworks, dogmas, and stereotypes can never be effective, and as I said, marketing is largely an art that demands an inner freedom, lust, beauty, and creativity. Consequently, the implementation of conspicuous, creative and revolutionary ideas for an ambitious brand definitely needs these qualities.

• The constant search and learning about novelties - as marketing itself is developing so fast and offering new challenges, it's hard to get ahead without these features.

• Most importantly, professionalism, analytical thinking, risk-taking and self-belief - without these qualities, it is impossible to achieve results and achievements!

What do you do to keep the organization from falling behind on new trends and to keep applying innovative approaches to marketing?

Wine is a product that sets trends, norms and standards that have characterized it around the world, for centuries, both in terms of company performance and in terms of consumer behavior, expectations and attitudes. However, with these standards, of course, there remains plenty of room for other actions and modern approaches. First, if we look at the fundamental standards that form the basis of many years of historical experience, it is the brand's platform; for example the country of production, its historical experience in wine production, and its association with consumers, whether it is a leading wine-producing country or not. By the way, one of the strongest and most effective platforms in this regard is Georgian wine, which reinforces any brand presented by our country on the international market, as the world of Georgia is known as the homeland of wine, which has recently become a slogan: 8000 years of continuous Georgian tradition of wine, confirmed by the vine seed found during excavations.

The second and most important one is the recognition of wines from around the world; for example, we can bring the wines produced from Georgian native vines - Saperavi, Khvanchkara, Rkatsiteli, Tsitska, Tsolikouri and so on. Wine awareness, along with the reputation of the specific wine-producing country, certainly plays a major role in the international market to meet growing demand and interest in it. Third is the awards and recognitions at international festivals, product quality, branding and more …

International exhibitions and their participation is an annual, essential marketing event, supplemented by integrated marketing communication in each export market, including a wide variety of ATL and BTL activities. So, if you look at the scale of the work, you are likely to agree that the role of marketing in the wine industry is quite responsible. For example, Winery Khareba is represented by a wide range of wines in more than 20 export markets worldwide, where active marketing activities are held to promote the wine, which of course also promotes Georgian wine in general. It is also worth noting that since its inception, Winery Khareba has received more than

200 international awards at festivals and exhibitions in various countries around the world, with more than 60% of them sampled. At present, Winery Khareba produces 45 varieties of wines, and such a wide range tells us about a brand’s strengths, 1500 hectares of vineyards and enterprise also contributes to find rare, unique Georgian vine varieties, and eventually restore and introduce into production.

What’s your organization’s business model, in terms of marketing?

Nowadays, for modern marketers, customer satisfaction, loyalty and constant growth are the primary concerns.

Customers can instantly elevate or subvert the brand, its popularity, its demand, its public opinion. Consequently, customer-focused brand communication first and foremost reflects its high credibility, fair and competitive pricing policy, superior product quality, and constant control, distinctive and sophisticated branding and visualization, high social responsibility of the brand and accumulated brand experience. It is in these contexts that the marketing strategy of "Winery Khareba" is engineered for today, the end result of which is to achieve the highest goals and results.

One word that describes your job.

Pleasure - This is probably one of the most important things in the process of working and doing your favorite activities. Feeling pleasure in the company and field you work in, the environment in which you face challenges, the sense of pride in associating yourself with the brand, the success of which you are constantly thinking about, daily, and with which you must make your background strong.

The most useful advice you’ve ever received in your life?

I can think of several of them, which have subsequently shifted my qualities that have helped me to this day. But the first and most important, is a piece of advice, and a constant instruction to myself, which I received as a child from my parents: you can do it yourself. It was a phrase that probably created a sense of self-confidence and self-dependance while facing life challenges.

Think of a person who inspires you, professionally.

Seth Godin, a famous marketing guru all over the world, is an exemplary professional who, to me, is distinguished by his knowledge and practical experience, his interesting writing and storytelling, his consistently original and innovative approaches. His companions, and followers of his ideas, are continually inspired by his originality, revolutionary and very modern thinking, his daring, the search for new, original paths, constant development and purpose, as well as the different and unlimited marketing inspirations and creative ideas: walk steadily, even if it’s at a slow pace, you will move forward and relentlessly, as the path to perfection goes through constant striving, hard work and stubbornness. "Seth Godin advises.

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Business News

Genius School Student and Teacher from Komarov School – The Life of Talented Georgian Boy

Georgia to participate in JATA Tourism Expo Tourism National Administration of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development participated in Tokyo International Tourism Exhibition - JATA Tourism Expo.

Nika Birkadze, the 12th grader student of Komarov school has been enlisted in the adults’ hall of Informatics International Olympiad and this is huge recognition for the Georgian student.

This title is transmitted to only those pupils who have obtained 2 golden medals at international Olympiad in Informatics, whilst the Georgian talent has obtained two golden and one silver medal.

An Innovative Product that will simplify Interaction between Customers and Financial Organizations

new jobs.

The City Mall Saburtalo has been supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

Royal Swinkels Family Brewers bought Georgian Beer- Argo's Share Royal Swinkels Family Brewers purchased Argo Brewery purchased 40%, and increased its share of beer production to 15% in the Georgia.

Court of Appeals rejects Satisfying Appeal by Savane Ghvinis 1 Kharkana “Interest of honest owners are protected in Georgia”, Archil Tabagari, defense lawyer of Ghvinis Karkhana 1 noted after the court assize at Court of Appeals.

The court has not satisfied the appeal submitted by Savane, as this appeal was based in lies and falsifications, Archil Tabagari said.

The new fintech startup project Wally Pay will join the Georgian financial market this year At the end of this year Wallypay will launch a modern, simplified solution for its customers to manage their finances. It will also enable financial organizations to provide their customers with a variety of innovative financial products/services through the WallyPay platform, taking customer relationship on upper level and making it more practical by offering their own Mastercard International Payment Card connected to the WallyPay e-wallet specially designed for their customers.

Georgian Students develop Fast Charging Device – Power Bank

Rating of Georgian Auditing Companies Georgia has been passing one of the reformatory ways for ensuring transparency in the private sector. Companies that satisfy due criteria are obliged to publish their auditing reports.

Auditing companies are obliged to satisfy financial transparency standards and publish their own incomes reports. International brands dominate in the list of the most profitable auditing companies. According to the 2018 indicators, the most profitable auditing companies are as follows.

Tbilisi has New Shopping Center - City Mall Saburtalo opened Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze emphazed how such projects are of the utmost importance for the economic development of the country and the creation of

Georgian students Ramaz Javakhishvili and Giorgi Jikidze have developed the so-called Power Bank with the fast charging function.

Ramaz Javakhishvili told BM.Ge that the previous chargers did not have fat charging function and their small-size power bank will charge cellular phones triple times faster.

Georgian Qvevri Wines rresented at RAW Wine International Exhibition New York Qvevri wine producers are participating in the RAW Wine International Exhibition of Natural Wines in New York, USA. Crosscurrents - Exhibition in Window Project The idea of exhibition is the result of examining Tbilisi's cultural life. Participants of "Crosscurrents" are representatives of different spheres, such as artists, designers, musicians, architects, who are collaborating, having fun and breaking existed traditional borders of different disciplines in this process.

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Jazz Club Singer Movement that brings Jazz to the City what did offer your guests during the opening night?

We opened on October 18, and I think we have fulfilled our promise. We promised our guests good music. This is what happened - musicians from different bands presented continuously to around 500 guests. The club had a wonderful atmosphere and sparkle.

Jazz has a very interesting history in Georgia, and it is even mentioned that we broke away from the Soviet Union through jazz. What is the role of jazz in our country today?

If you’re still skeptical whether Tbilisi can do jazz or not, you should visit a local jazz club: Singer. The cafe has a vibrant, lively atmosphere, and hosts talented musicians gather for jam sessions. Singer already has an impressive reputation, and can boast of hosting memorable nights, but, along with changing location, the project has developed, and offer novelties.

CBW had an interview with Aleko Tsabadze, one of the founders, and a prominent film director:

Tell us the backstory of the Singer Jazz Club and who is behind its creation?

In 2015, my colleague and friend, Archil Akhvlediani, discovered that there was a Kakha Bakuradze Movement Theater in Tbilisi.

Together with Kakha, the idea was to devote a stage, two days a week, to jazz. Archil also joined Mariam Davitashvili, President of the Singer Jazz Foundation and Rezo Kiknadze, then Rector of the Conservatoire, who led the music side. These three people - Archil,

Rezo and Mari - stand behind Project Singer. In two years, the project has grown to become an independent jazz cafe. A couple of months ago, one melomaniac cinematographer, and on the other I, another music-loving film director came together, and the project changed shape and became a jazz club.

As we know, Singer changes location and comes back with new features. What is the atmosphere you want to create?

Our Jazz Club not only changes location, but during our time together the project has grown, changed its face and, as we have already mentioned, became a jazz club. Our address is Melikishvili N1 (in the yard of the Philharmonic Concert Hall).

There, you will find live music, a cozy interior, and a pleasant atmosphere. You should visit.

How would you describe Singer’s history, does it get crowded, has the number of jazz-fans grown?

Our consistent jazz evenings began in 2015. Back then, we had a few loyal listeners. Nowadays, we have grown both in quantity and in age range. We are pleased that the younger generation in our country is listening to jazz, which is confirmed by their daily visits.

What events do you plan, and

If not for Zinger, today's jazz situation in Georgia would not be the same. Of course, there was jazz in Georgia before. The names of several jazz clubs remain in the history of Tbilisi. Unfortunately, most of them closed soon after opening, such as Bebe Lortkopanidze's “Jazz Unlimited.”

Jazz education has been going on in Tbilisi schools for a long time, at the professional level (A Bachelor's degree from 2013 to present at Tbilisi State Conservatory).

But what Singer has brought to the scene, is not only about playing jazz in the evenings.

That is why it’s more like a “movement’’- whether it’s creative, educational or social one important point in all these respects distinguishes “Singers’’ from other such professional or educational activity. First of all - regular playing in Singer is a daily creative existence, without

which no education whatsoever has power; jazz, in particular, can not be squeezed into a narrow classroom-focused form, and can never develop into true jazz, which encompasses this everyday routine - stage, club, and even street side. On the other hand - in the cradle of "Singer", one very emotional social idea emerged, when musicians refused to accept their monthly salaries and, which was supposed to help poor conservatory students, with much charitable support from various companies or individuals. This is how the "Singer Jazz Foundation" was created, and it currently supports 14 students with their tuition fees or similar educational needs.

It is with this enthusiasm that we have attracted many people who listen to jazz and fans.

Nowadays, Singer is a leading

factor in the Tbilisi jazz life. It is a force that generates many emotional, creative or educational impulses. It is a fact that we have been repeatedly mentioned by our European or American colleagues and partner academies with admiration and even with a certain amiable envy.

11 November 4, 2019 #302

New Agricultural Machines and Rural Sector Challenges

How agriculture machines are employed in rural regions of Georgia, and what challenges are met in the sector– Akaki Gogsadze, founder of the Agro Motors company talks about these issues for the Business Partner TV program.

Agro Motors is an official representative of John Deere, the world famous American brand of agriculture machines and equipment, in Georgia and it imports, sells and serves John Deere products in Georgia. The demand for products doubles year on year, and The government co-funding it will be wonderful if the program enables farmers to state co-funding program buy modern and high-quality for agriculture machines is machines, and this process continued into the future, should be continued. Today, Gogsadze said. the Georgian agriculture The demand for state cosector lacks necessary funding project was so equipment, he said. high that in the spring, the Compared to the 1990s, company could not satisfy all the number of agriculture consumers, and queues stood machines and amount in the yards, he said. of equipment has almost “A lot of consumers could not halved, to about 7-8 enjoy this opportunity, and thousand units. they expect the authorities Moreover, to maintain this project, farmers prefer but nothing is clear this to employ year. This project allows us predominantly businessmen and farmers to used buy modern, high-quality machines and machines and equipment�, equipment.

Gogsadze noted.

As a result, more fuel is used and the productivity is lower, Gogsadze noted.

12 November 4, 2019 #302