Caucasus Business Week #308

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December 16, 2019 - www.cbw.ge

#308

WEEK

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GEL Exchange Rate and Monetary Policy

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Pension Agency and Reforms we should pray for

Urban Farming Perspectives in Georgia

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Startupers at Startup Expo – Opportunities for Beginner Businesses

2 December 16, 2019 #308

EBRD and Partners Deepen Green finance in Georgia with 54 Million Investment

Georgian film receives Human Rights in Film Award 2019 at Tbilisi International Film Festival

Intensifying the effort to strengthen Georgia’s energy efficiency, the EBRD is launching a new Green Economy Financing Facility (GEFF) for the country.

On 7 December 2019, in the framework of upcoming International Human Rights Day, the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia awarded the " Human Rights in Film Award 2019".

Finance Minister: Education Sector to spend 1.9 billion GEL in 2020 About 1.9 billion GEL will be spent in the education sector in 2020, Finance Minister Ivane Machavariani noted at the parliament’s budget hearings.

How Prices of Georgian Railway and GOGC Bonds change Week on Week Value of bonds of Georgian stateowned companies have slightly declined at London Stock Exchange week on week. Information on number of sold bonds is not public. The bonds devaluation made up 0.5%.

Bonds of Georgian Oil and Gas Corporation (GOGC) has depreciated by 0.09%. Nevertheless, starting January 1 both companies maintain positive trends. According to Galt&Taggart indicator, their value has increased by 5.64% and 3.76% respectively.

Pension Agency Director to quit Position in January Pensions Agency director Levan Surguladze plans to quit the position on January 16. The information was confirmed by Levan Surguladze at the December 9 news conference.

Health Minister finds it Unacceptable to treat Health Sector as Business “It is unconvincing assertion that clinics in Georgia bear losses. It is unacceptable for me to consider health sector as business, even more so, as profitable business”, Health Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze told Imedi TV program regarding changes to the universal health program. If clinics persuade the Health Ministry that the new tariffs are much lower compared to prime costs of services, the Ministry will agree to revise the new tariffs, Ekaterine Tikaradze noted.

Borjomi and Bakuriani to host European Youth Olympic Festival 2025 According to the official letter, Borjomi and Bakuriani are granted with status to host European Youth Olympic Festival in Winter 2025.

Tbilisi Municipal Budget allocates 30 million GEL for Purchase of 300 Minibuses Tbilisi municipal budget has allocated 30 million GEL for purchase of 300 minibuses, Tbilisi Vice Mayor Irakli Khmaladze noted.

Tbilisi Municipal Transport Center has New Director On December 11, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze introduced a new director of Tbilisi Municipal Transport Service.

Georgia received 3.05 Billion USD from International Tourism According to preliminary data, Georgia received $ 3.051 billion in international travel in January-November 2019, up 1.2% year-on-year, or $ 35.4 million.

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;

January-November 2019: Passenger Flow in Georgian Airports up 4 per cent

In the first 11 months of 2019, Georgian airports served 4,869,190 passengers in total, which is a four per cent increase compared to the same period of 2018, announced the United Airports of Georgia.

In January-November 2019, passenger flow decreased by two per cent to Tbilisi International Airport, while an increase of the flow was recorded in both Batumi International Airport (three per cent) and

3 December 16, 2019 #308

Kutaisi International Airport (41 per cent).

In the first 11 months of 2019 Georgian airports served: Tbilisi International Airport – 3,470,438 passengers Batumi International Airport – 597,939 passengers Kutaisi International Airport – 791,356 passengers Meanwhile, passenger flow increased in the local airports of Georgia.

The number of passengers increased by 19 per cent in Mestia Airport compared to last year. It also increased by 20 per cent in Ambrolauri Airport year-on-year.

Georgian local airports served: Mestia Airport – 7,658 passengers Ambrolauri Airport – 1,799 passengers Last year, Georgian airports served 5,033,323 passengers in total.

4 December 16, 2019 #308

GEL Exchange Rate and Monetary Policy Economic experts and banking product specialists have analyzed the GEL exchange rate’s trend towards strength, and future perspectives. David Kikvidze and Iliauni Business School director Giorgi Abashishvili have discussed these issues for the Business Partner TV Program (Channel 1).

The GEL exchange rate is moving to a real point of equilibrium. Despite the coming New Year, the national currency is expected to maintain a strengthening tendency. We expect the national currency to reflect the real economic conditions in the first quarter of 2020, David Kikvidze noted.

“I believe that the GEL exchange rate strengthened after some negative expectations disappeared, and I agree with Giorgi that the GEL is moving to the real break-even point commensurate with the current economic situation.

However, we should not forget that the New Year is coming, society spends more money, and the burden on the GEL exchange rate is aggravated. However, the latest tendencies show that the strengthening trend will be maintained despite the New Year, and in the first half of 2020 we will have an authentic exchange rate, reflecting the real condition of our economy”, David Kikvidze said.

We should maintain the GEL exchange rate’s strengthening trend, and to this end excessive

discussions over the exchange rate should ceas, and positive statements should spread. Moreover, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and the government should carry out coordinated policy and peaceful political environment should also be provided, he added.

“The elementary principles of economics suggests that political developments, external and internal factors affect the economy, including the national currency exchange rate. Therefore, the major challenge today comes from the current exchange rate. In practice, all changes in Georgia and in foreign trade partner countries are reflected in the GEL exchange rate, directly. Even more so, everybody talks about the GEL exchange rate, despite the fact that they are not related to this issue. Anyway, political developments, internal and external, are directly reflected in the GEL exchange rate. The more peaceful a political environment we have, the more the GEL exchange rate will strengthen”, Kikvidze said.

Growing the inflow of foreign direct investments and higher revenues from the tourism sector have had a positive effect on the GEL exchange rate, but unequal distribution of investments to the regions has had negative effects, and the government has to cope with this challenge, he said.

The government should expose the investment potential of regions, and this is one of the key challenges, Iliauni Business School director and the Business Partner TV program copresenter Giorgi Abashishvili noted.

‘Our regions are much more attractive than Tbilisi”, Abashishvili said.

“Investments in the regions are distributed unequally. The country attracted 900 million USD in FDI in the January-September period, and only 2.5 million USD went to the regions, and this fact proves the country has serious problems with inclusive development.

Regional policy

should be enhanced, especially in terms of investments. When holding investment forums, emphasis should be placed on the importance of our regions, too. It is unimaginable that only 2.5 million in FDI is spent in Guria over three quarters, while this region has much more investment potential.

Therefore, the authorities should advertise the investment potential of the whole country, on the one hand, and the export potential of the regions, on the other hand. Our regions are much more attractive and interesting than Tbilisi”, Giorgi Abashishsvili said.

Banking products expert David Kikvide explains that the Government should set various economic preferences to the regions. Only Tbilisi and Batumi are developed in Georgia. The Ministry of Economy should take serious decisions to expand economic activities beyond Tbilisi and Batumi, and enliven other major cities, too, he added.

“It is very difficult to cover all the outlying regions at once, but we should start developing key cities such as Telavi, Zugdidi, Chokhatauri, Ozurgeti, important regional cities with interesting investment potential in both tourism and regional production. We can set certain tax preferences, or other economic preferences in these regions”, Kikvidze said.

The growing inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI), and the growing revenues from the tourism sector, also have a positive effect on the GEL exchange rate. The country cannot valuably employ tourism sector revenues, because an important part of this goes out of the country again, Giorgi Abashishvili noted.

“When talking about the tourism sector, it is important to maintain the tourism sector’s revenues on the domestic market through developing domestic production. Regretfully, because of the high import-dependence of Georgia, a serious portion of revenues from the tourism sector leaves the country immediately. This is another serious challenge for the national currency. We should carry out a long-term strategy in this respect”, Abashishvili said.

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Pension Agency and Reforms we should pray for

On December 9th, the Pensions Agency Director Levan Surguladze released a special statement on his intention to quit the position.

“The agency operates well, and continues to implement pension system reform. A week ago, I applied to the supervisory board for letting me quit the position on January 16, as the Pension Agency operates efficiently. The supervisory board will discuss my application, and take the necessary decision. Indeed, if the supervisory body asks me to remain in the position, I will agree, taking into consideration the unprecedented importance of this reform”, Levan Surguladze noted, and added that he has other plans, and he will unveil them to the society later.

“In a brief period of time, our team has implemented reforms, successfully. I have already placed our focus on resolving challenges and we have overcome all challenges. I have other plans, and I will unveil them later”, noted Levan Surguladze.

The pension system reform has brought genuinely excellent results, he added.

“The Pension Agency works well, regularly.

All its key components run without dramatic drawbacks. We have received much better results than expected. The reform is proceeding successfully. At this stage, we have already accepted 943,119 beneficiaries in the pension scheme”, said Levan Surguladze.

More than 60,000 companies have engaged in the scheme. The total amount of pension payments has exceeded 0.5 billion GEL – 508,366,659 GEL. The price per unit of the Fund is 10.56 GEL, Surguladze pointed out, and noted that he will pray for successful continuation of the person system reformation.

How do experts assess Surguladze’s

resignation, and should we genuinely hope for the pension system’s reform?

“We should genuinely pray not to lose the money that we have been paying to the pension agency”, economist Irakli Kipiani noted, and added that it was not necessary to establish the Agency because this instance does not reflect the current reality in Georgia.

“This is a high-risk agency, because in several years the government may just appropriate the accumulated funds and beneficiaries may lose everything, as happened in Poland and Hungary. Namely, in Poland, beneficiaries lost 50% of the accumulated funds, while in Hungary beneficiaries lost all funds.

As regarding the Georgian government’s institutional condition, our government is not better than those of Poland or Hungary.

Consequently, this is a time bomb that will explode in several years”, Irakli Kipiani said.

The authorities do not know how to manage 0.5 billion GEL accumulated by the Agency, lawyer Levan Alapishvili asserts.

“Maybe they have not prayed efficiently, and that’s why an investment policy document has not been prepared so far. Praying turned out to be insufficient to put these funds into turnover. Moreover, these funds are placed at the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), with commercial banks as deposits. Seemingly, from the very beginning, the authorities have not prayed with enough feeling to realize what obligations and burden would arise for the business sector. Consequently, they have not analyzed how this new tax would work in a country with such economic and social conditions”, Levan Alapishvili said.

In response to the question of why pension funds are not invested in business, Levan Alapishvili noted that the Government

has only one purpose: they will use these mobilized funds themselves, for their own needs.

“I will not go deeper. I will just mention resolution no 520, social expenditures that are growing without sufficient economic upturn. Therefore, the government has to apply various manipulations to satisfy all the requirements and cover all directions.

Eventually, this pension system reform is nothing more than taxes collected from ordinary citizens. If we read the pension law, for the first 5 minutes these funds may be invested in a less-risky package. Article 2 shows that less risky mechanisms are treasury bills, treasury obligations, bonds and so on, the instruments through which the government is able to take and employ this money. Who will use these funds for 5 years?

Where these funds will go? Naturally, these funds will go to the budget, as determined in the law.

Moreover, do we have a developed financial market to put similar investments in a lessrisky portfolio? No! The banking sector is the only stable segment of the finance sector.

Why do we need the government’s assistance, while we could place these funds on deposits ourselves?! Their objective is to use these funds when state budget fails to cover all expenditures”, Levan Alapishvili said.

The Government refuses to understand that pension payments are not taxes, but Alapishvili asserts that the pension payment is a tax system in its nature, and the reform is unconstitutional.

The system genuinely requires reform, but without the obligatory components. This only right way to make this reform viable. In the other scenario, the pension agency is doomed to failure.

There is consensus within and outside the country that the reform is, in its nature, a tax, but the authorities refuse to recognize this. Therefore, it contradicts the constitution.

For example, today a court trial proceeds in the USA regarding so-called Oabamacare that consists of two components. This is an obligatory package – a deposit and a fine for not placing a deposit. The Supreme Court of the US has instructed that if a sanction comprises a financial obligation, both of them must be considered as taxes, and therefore, soon the Court of Appeals is expected to confirm all these aspects. This analogue will be employed in Georgia, too, at the constitutional proceedings”, Levan Alapishvili noted.

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Urban Farming Perspectives in Georgia Urban Farming Georgia’s first experimental with a vertical hothouse project has been implemented successfully growing vegetables without sunlight and soil in a so-called urban farm is now a reality. The experimental hothouse plans to start product sales in January 2020, Tusia Gharibashvili, the urban farming development manager for Urban Greens and Space Farms companies told Business Partner.

The TV program’s participants stressed that the so-called urban farming concept has become more popular worldwide.

Experimental farming has already been developed in Georgia. With the support of the Adjara Group, in 2018 starter business companies Urban Greens and Space Farms launched an experiment in growing vegetables in a room on shelf stands, without sunlight and soil. The experiment was completed successfully, and the hothouse plans to launch product sales in January 2020.

So-called Space Farms (Cosmos Farms) already exist in Georgia.

The first vertically, fullycontrolled hothouse runs on 155 square meters at the Stamba Hotel, and it consists of six shelf stands over seven floors.

The farm is able to grow 500700 kilograms of vegetables a month, including greens (tarragon, basil). Today, the company grows various sorts of flowers, Italian basil, Georgian basil, tarragon and salad leaves.

The hothouse, which has cutting-edge technology, grows greens directly from seeds, and allows them full control of the process. Despite the season, the experimental period has finished. Starting January 2020, the company will launch sales. The company will start retail sales in February 2020, Gharibashvili noted.

‘We have bought the required software, which collects a full database through sensors and other control mechanisms.

With this software, we control temperature, humidity, CO2

emission level. We control how frequently the so-called LED illumination spectrum falls on the plant. This level of control enables us to grow healthy products full of vitamins”, Tusia Gharibashvili said.

Moreover, Georgia’s first vertical hothouse employs resource efficient technologies and reusable resources. Thanks to this technology, only 1 ton of water is required to grow 500700 kilograms of vegetable a month.

As for future plans, the company plans to grow Georgian vine varieties in this high tech hothouse, and add a vocational education component to the project, because the students have expressed their readiness to put their talents into agro technologies. The farm is able to grow strawberries and all types of salad leaves, Gharibashvili said.

‘We have an 8,000-year history of viticulture, and we should forge a 9th millennium too, where vines will grow in different conditions. The Ninth Millennium, one of our projects, aims to cultivate vines in different conditions to grow them without sunlight and soil.

The laboratory is the next phase.

We plan to build a laboratory, where we will grow vines in the simulated environment of Mars.

Scientists will join in this process, and later, NASA is also expected to join the project.

Negotiations are underway with foreign partners to assist us in developing this laboratory.

Viticulture popularization is very important”, Gharibashvili said.

Through the introduction of agro technologies, the company has managed to popularize urban farming and technologies among young people, she said.

“Now, at this point, we have already been actively cooperating with students.

We have already employed several university students”, Gharibashvili pointed out.

Startupers at Startup Expo – Opportunities for Beginner Businesses

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On December 14-15, the third Startup Expo will be held at the Expo Georgia exhibition hall to introduce new opportunities to beginner businesses.

Mariam Shevardenidze and Salome Shamugia, the Startup Market project managers, have talked about these issues on Business Partner.

is different in both visual concept and its core nature.

Moreover, many more businesspersons are taking part in the event compared to previous years. The statistics also proves that the number of startups grows year on year in our market. Only nine companies were represented in 2016, and this year the figure has increased to 120�,

most sought-after products.

The demand gradually increased for furniture, house decorations, garments, footwear, innovations, technologies, art.

This year, the organizers expect about 10,000 visitors to attend Startup Export in 2019. As for the cognitiveentertainment space, many interesting projects will be

The Startup Market is a platform of movable events that was held for the first time in 2016 This turned out very well. The key mission of this platform is to promote startupers, promote a presentation and sales of products, Salome Shamugia noted. “The 2019 Startup Market

Shamugia noted.

The products of 11 various categories have been represented at Startup Market, including interesting products from different technological fields, she said.

Salome Shevardenidze, one of the managers of the project, explains that initially, accessories emerged as the

arranged, she said.

In response to the question of what barriers frustrate the development, Salome Shevardenidze noted that one of the key challenges comes from limited financial resources.

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Natalia Goderdzishvili: "Nowadays it is Impossible to have an Effective Business Model without the Use of Digital Technologies" Interview with Caucasus Marketing Supervisor for Borusan Cat Georgia, Natalia Goderdzishvili.

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

I’ll start with when I grew up in a family full of doctors in the previous generation.

From childhood, I was constantly asked which medical field I was most interested in. However, at no stage in my life did I think about medicine. In my opinion, the doctor should a calling, not a pragmatic choice.

I made my career choice in the final years of school, and at the time, my older brother was an ESM Business Administration student, and I often heard advice from him about it. Accordingly, I decided to pursue a degree in business administration, and marketing from my third year, when I started taking all the major courses. The most interesting and diverse of these subjects for me was this field. I'm glad I made the right choice.

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

Digital technologies are evolving on a daily basis, and we are inevitably part of all this. Nowadays, it is impossible to achieve success without getting involved in these processes. Borusan Cat, as Caterpillar's official representative, constantly provides training that helps us to increase our knowledge and qualifications, and adapt easily to technological change.

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

I started working in marketing in 2012, when social networks were newly established in our country. Perhaps at that time, I’d have had a hard time believing the situation we have today, in terms of digitalization. Nowadays, it is impossible to have an effective business model without the use of digital technologies. As the years go by, the pace of acceleration in life we have today will speed up even more, leading to the development of digital technology.

What do you think are the most important qualities a marketing manager should have, and what is his or her role in the organization in general?

In this case, I combine skills with qualities, and say that, perhaps, the majority of all professions are of great value, but I would also emphasize that marketing is such a diverse field, and that different companies may have so many different aspects that you are constantly learning something new and gaining new experiences. Market-

ing is not a precise science; the same goal can be achieved in different ways, so it is very important to be confident in what you are doing. It is also important to be sociable, active and open to the novelties. As for the role of marketing in an organization, with the proper use of this science, it plays an important role in the proper positioning of the company and the effective delivery of products to consumers.

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

Due to the specifics of our business, it is impossible to keep up with new trends without applying innovative approaches. As caterpillar officials in Georgia, our marketing strategy is focused on the global caterpillar strategy. Consequently, all the steps we have taken on behalf of the company fall within the framework of Caterpillar brand marketing communication.

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

Let me start by saying that the Borusan Cat's slogan is "We offer solutions", which clearly indicates that our customer is the core of our company. In addition to offering premium quality products and services, our goal is to help users succeed.

We repeatedly point out to our customers that we represent not only their suppliers, but also valuable consultants who can get advice at any time.

One word that describes your job.

It is difficult to describe this process in one word that covers most of my life, but the word best suited to this is probably "diverse".

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

Perhaps one of the most helpful tips I received was that you do not please everyone at once, and that you do not meet everyone's needs. There will always be people who will be dissatisfied with things. That is why you should strive to be honest, and do your job.

Think of a person who inspires you professionally.

I cannot identify one particular person in this regard, but I will say that I am inspired by people who have their own business that they themselves started. Many people think that doing their own thing is easier than being an employee, but in fact, it requires a lot more effort and resources than one imagines.

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Business News

Garage48 in Tbilisi – Winners of 48-Hour Hackathon revealed!

Limited Series of Sarajishvili 2020

The 48-hour hackathon organized by Garage 48 and Impact HUB Tbilisi has been finished – programmers, designers, marketers, entrepreneurs, project managers with creative ideas have developed working prototypes.

More than 100 participants engaged in the hackathon and jointly with international and domestic mentors they have worked on developing ideas with much enthusiasm.

It has been several years since Sarajishvili House offers its users New Year's limited series of products.

Sisa Tura-Ethno-village from Samegrelo In 11 Kilometres from Zugdidi, on Mestia road, on the territory the village Chkhoria, tourists are attracted to ethnographic space - "Sisa Tura", which involves more than 3 hectares of territory.

Georgian wine presented at Polish Christmas Fairs Within the framework of the campaign "Explore Georgia", presentation of the Georgian is organized by the National Wine Agency contractor marketing company "Winifera" in Poland at Christmas fairs.

Tiflistex enters EU Market

Geostat developed New iOS Application for Information Dissemination The app has a modern and user-friendly design.

The society and statistical information users will receive up-to-date information on current events in Geostat via this app.

Maka Batiashvili - The Moment of Narcissism Project ArtBeat presented Maka Batiashvili’s solo exhibition, The Moment of Narcissism.

“It is a moment in which we focus at ourselves, which is illusory and instant, where on the one hand we are represented and on the other our idealized self. Posing and fixing our appearance is what we call our daily life. At this moment men enjoys with its charm, focusing on sensations and appreciates visual world. This is a moment when human approaches his or her inner, non-material world most closely or oppositely getting farer, runs away and puts a mask temporary.

Sock producing Georgian company TiflisTex is exporting the product with Made in Georgia label in Greece and Azerbaijan.

"We export our product in two countries, one of them is a member of the EU. That means, that we are already on the EU's market. Approximately 1 Million stocks are exported in 1 year.", noted general director of TiflisTex, Giorgi Gachechiladze.

Georgian Engineers preparing to run Shuakhevi Hydropower Plant (HPP) Rustaveli 850 to publish Unique English-based The Man in the Panther's Skin Recently, an English-based publication's presentation was held in the Bank of Georgia.

Its uniqueness is that the book unites translation originating from Marjory Wardrop and illustrations from Tsereteli characteristics. This is the translation, which was published by brother of Marjory, Oliver Wardrop in 1912. Above-mentioned illustrations are separate treasures of Georgia, which have a long-standing history.

As the Shuakhevi HPP, one of the largest energy projects in Georgia, is reaching the final stage of construction, the project team is preparing to start the test operation.

Tourist Complex Sevsamora Resort and Spa opened in Saguramo 25 kilometers from Tbilisi, in the ecologically clean area - Saguramo, with the support of TBC, a multifunctional, recreational tourism complex Sevamora Resort and Spa has been opened.

10 December 16, 2019 #308

About the performance:

tragedy along with other important books, such as Aristotle’s Poetics, in which the great Greek philosopher discusses various ways of interpreting one and the same story. The ideas that have reached us from the depths of twenty-three centuries focus on how times change while we still tell the same story: the story of Orestes – Hamlet, where it is virtually impossible to say with certainty whether it is a person who is insane or it is the world that considers Hamlet insane.

Or are these nothing else but meagre words? Words, words, words...

Words, words, words...

William Shakespeare Hamlet Big Stage Text adaptation by Lasha Bugadze, Levan Tsuladze Directed by Levan Tsuladze Cast: Nika Kuchava , Nikoloz Tavadze, David Khurtsilava , Barbare Dvalishvili, Ana Vasadze, Akaki Khidasheli, Paata Papuashvili, Konstantine Roinishvili, Ana Grigolia, Zaza Salia

In one of the scenes Hamlet appears with a book in his hand and when asked what he is reading, he replies with philosophical vagueness: ‘Words, words, words.’

What words he might be reading, one wonders.

Could it be the opening from John’s gospel: ‘In the beginning was the Word’?

The words of the apostle who later wrote the Revelation, because Hamlet also perceives himself as the Horseman of the Apocalypse, even if only in Elsinore, the castle poisoned by crime and deceit, where the only weapon at his disposal to fight demons is telling the truth and unveiling the vice.

When everyone lies and no one wishes to face the truth, the entire hatred is directed towards the one who has the courage of speak out: it’s practically impossible to stand a person who constantly urges others to accept the reality as it is. It is akin to the fate of Cassandra who was cursed for her prophecy in Troy because nobody wished to believe her, or rather the objective reality: the Trojans crave victory while Cassandra predicts defeat, consequently, it’s not the Trojans’ belief that is unbearable but Cassandra’s prophecy!

So, could it be that Hamlet is reading Iliad in which, apart from other things, the blind poet described the tragedy of the wise Cassandra, proclaimed to be insane?

Or could it be that Hamlet is reading Aeschylus’ Oresteia, the story of Agamemnon’s son, his assassinated father, his murderess mother and her lover? Ultimately, the story of a boy who avenges his mother and uncle for

Lasha Bughadze The performance "Hamlet" was performed with the support of Georgian Industry Group, Hotel Chateau Mere and Hotel Cabadoni. murdering his father and then becomes the king of Mycenae?

The tragedy bears an uncanny resemblance to Hamlet’s story – there’s the murdered king, the deceitful mother and a ‘loving’ uncle. Without a doubt, Orestes is Hamlet’s twin brother, with the only difference that the Danish prince will never kill Gertrude, while Orestes executes Clytemnestra with no trace of remorse. The distance between these two decisions seems unsurmountable: Hamlet deliberates, only contemplating murder, while Orestes also reflects but doesn’t hesitate anymore.

It is unknown whether Hamlet was reading Euripides’ Orestes, where the author describes the life of a prince who lost his mind due to the murder committed by his mother and uncle.

However, it’s highly probable that William Shakespeare had read the

Duration: 200 minutes, with one intermission

11 December 16, 2019 #308 Embassy United States of America Embassy 11 Balanchivadze St., Dighomi Dstr., Tbilisi Tel: 27-70-00, 53-23-34 E-mail: tbilisivisa@state.gov; askconsultbilisi@state.gov United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Embassy 51 Krtsanisi Str., Tbilisi, Tel: 227-47-47 E-mail: british.embassy.tbilisi@fco.gov.uk Republic of France Embassy 49, Krtsanisi Str. Tbilisi, Tel: 272 14 90 E-mail: ambafrance@access.sanet.ge Web-site: www.ambafrance-ge.org Federal Republic of Germany Embassy 20 Telavi St. Tbilisi Tel: 44 73 00, Fax: 44 73 64 Italian RepublicEmbassy 3a Chitadze St, Tbilisi, Tel: 299-64-18, 292-14-62, 292-18-54 E-mail: embassy.tbilisi@esteri.it Republic of Estonia Embassy 4 Likhauri St., Tbilisi, Tel: 236-51-40 E-mail: tbilisisaatkond@mfa.ee Republic of Lithuania Embassy 25 Tengiz Abuladze St, Tbilisi Tel: 291-29-33 E-mail: amb.ge@urm.lt Republic of Latvia Embassy 16 Akhmeta Str., Avlabari, 0144 Tbilisi.

E-mail: embassy.georgia@mfa.gov.lv Greece Republic Embassy 37. Tabidze St. Tbilisi Tel: 91 49 70, 91 49 71, 91 49 72 Czech RepublicEmbassy 37 Chavchavadze St. Tbilisi ;Tel: 29167-40/41/42 E-mail: czechembassy@gol.ge Web-sait: www.mzv.cz Japan Embassy 7 Krtsanisi St. Tbilisi Tel: +995 32 2 75 21 11, Fax: +995 32 2 75 21 20 Kingdom of Sweden Embassy 15 Kipshidze St. Tbilisi Tel: +995 32 2 55 03 20 , Fax: +995 32 2 22 48 90 Kingdom of the Netherlands Embassy Pixel Center, 34, Ilia Chavchavadze Ave. 3rd floor Tel: +995 32 227 62 00 People’s Republic of China Embassy 52 Barnov St. Tbilisi Tel: 225-22-86, 225-21-75, 225-26-70 E-mail: zhangling@access.sanet.ge Republic of Bulgaria Embassy 15 Gorgasali Exit, 0105 Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +995 32 291 01 94; +995 32 291 01 95 Fax: +99 532 291 02 70 Republic of Hungary Embassy 83 Lvovi Street, Tbilisi Tel: 39 90 08; E-mail: hunembtbs@gmail.com State of Israel Embassy 61 Agmashenebeli Ave. Tbilisi Tel: 95 17 09, 94 27 05 Embassy of Swiss Confederation’s Russian Federation Interests Section Embassy 51 Chavchavadze Av., Tbilisi Tel: 291-26-45, 291-24-06, 225-28-03 E-mail: RussianEmbassy@Caucasus.net Ukraine Embassy 76-g Chavchavadze Ave., Tbilisi Tel: 231-11-61, 231-14-54 E-mail: emb_ge@mfa.gov.ua Consular Agency: 71, Melikishvili St., Batumi Tel: (8-88-222) 3-16-00/ 3-14-78 Republic of Turkey Embassy 35 Chavchavadze Ave., Tbilisi Tel: 225-20-72/73/74/76

embassy.tbilisi@mfa.gov.tr Consulate General in Batumi 9 Ninoshvili Street, Batumi Tel: 422 25 58 00 consulate.batumi@mfa.gov.tr Republic of Azerbaijan Embassy Kipshidze II-bl . N1., Tbilisi Tel: 225-26-39, 225-35-26/27/28 E-mail: tbilisi@mission.mfa.gov.az Address: Dumbadze str. 14, Batumi Tel: 222-7-67-00; Fax: 222-7-34-43 Republic of Armenia Embassy 4 Tetelashvili St. Tbilisi Tel: 95-94-43, 95-17-23, 95-44-08 Kingdom of Spain Embassy Rustaveli Ave. 24, I floor, Tbilisi Tel: 230-54-64 E-mail: emb.tiflis@maec.esRomania Embassy 7 Kushitashvili St., Tbilisi Tel: 38-53-10; 25-00-98/97 E-mail: ambasada@caucasus.net Republic of Poland Embassy Oniashvili str. 24, Tbilisi Tel.: +995322 920398; Fax: +995322 920397 Email:tbilisi.amb.sekretariat@msz.gov.pl Web-site: www.tbilisi.polemb.net Republic of Iraq Embassy Kobuleti str. 16, Tbilisi Tel: 291 35 96; 229 07 93 E-mail: iraqiageoemb@yahoo.com Federative Republic of Brazil Embassy Chanturia street 6/2, Tbilisi Tel.: +995-32-293-2419 Fax.: +995-32-293-2416 Islamic Republic of Iran Embassy 80, I.Chavchavadze St. Tbilisi, Tel: 291-36-56, 291-36-58, 291-36-59, 291-36-60; Fax: 291-36-28 E-mail: iranemb@geo.net.ge United Nations Office Address: 9 Eristavi St. Tbilisi Tel: 225-11-26/28, 225-11-29/31 Fax: 225-02-71/72 E-mail: registry.geo@undp.org Web-site: www.undp.org International Monetary Fund Office Address : 4 Freedom Sq., GMT Plaza, Tbilisi Tel: 292-04-32/33/34 E-mail: kdanelia@imf.org Web-site: www.imf.ge Asian Development Bank Georgian Resident Mission Address: 1, G. Tabidze Street Freedom Square 0114 Tbilisi, Georgia Tel: +995 32 225 06 19 E-mail: adbgrm@adb.org; Web-site: www.adb.org World Bank Office Address : 5a Chavchavadze Av., lane-I, Tbilisi, Georgia ; Tel: 291-30-96, 291-2689/59 Web-site: www.worldbank.org.ge Regional Office of European Bank for Reconstruction and Development Address: 6 Marjanishvili St. Tbilisi Tel: 244 74 00, 292 05 13, 292 05 14 Web-site: www.ebrd.com Representation of the Council of Europe in Georgia Address : 26 Br. Kakabadze, Tbilisi Tel: 995 32 291 38 70/71/72/73 Fax: 995 32 291 38 74 Web-site: www.coe.ge Embassy of the Slovak Republic Address: Chancery: 85 Irakli Abashidze St. Tbilisi, 0162 Georgia Consular Office: 38 Nino Chkheidze St. Tbilisi, 0102 Georgia Phone: 2 222 4437, 2 296 1913 e-mail: emb.tbilisi@mzv.sk European Investment Bank Regional Representation for the South Caucasus Address: 1,G.Tabidze Street, Freedom Square

Phone: +995 322 006284 Embassy of The Republic of Korea 12, Titsian Tabidze Str. Tbilisi 0179, Geogia Tel: (995 32) 297 03 18; 297 03 20; Fax: (995 32) 242 74 40; Email: georgia@mofa.go.kr Hotels in Georgia TBILISI MARRIOTT Tbilisi , 13 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 77 92 00, www.marriott.com COURTYARD MARRIOTT Tbilisi , 4 Freedom Sq. Tel: 77 91 00 www.marriott.com RADISSON BLU HOTEL, TBILISI Rose Revolution Square 1 0108, Tbilisi Tel: +995 32 402200 radissonblu.com/hotel-tbilisi RADISSON BLU HOTEL, BATUMI Ninoshvili Str. 1, 6000 Bat’umi, Georgia Tel: 8 422255555 http://radissonblu.com/hotel-batumi SHERATON METECHI PALACE Tbilisi , 20 Telavi St. Tel: 77 20 20, www.starwoodhotels.com HOLIDAY INN TBILISI Business hotel Addr: 1, 26 May Square Tel: +995 32 230 00 99 E-mail: info@hi-tbilisi.com Website: http://www.hi-tbilisi.com RIVER SIDE HOTEL With incredible service and views Addr: Mari Brosse street turn, Old Tbilisi.

Tel: +995 32 2242244; +995 32 2242288 Fax: +995 32 2 242277 Email: info@riverside.ge Website: www.riverside.ge Restaurants CORNER HOUSE Tbilisi, I. Chavchavadze ave. 10, Tel: 0322 47 00 49; Email: contact@cornerhouse.ge RESTAURANT BARAKONI Restaurant with healthy food.

Georgian-European Cuisine Agmashenebeli Alley 13th Phone: 555 77 33 77 www.barakoni.com CHARDIN 12 Tbilisi , 12 Chardin St. , Tel: 92 32 38 CAFE 78 Best of the East and the West Lado Asatiani 33, SOLOLAKI 032 2305785; 574736290 BREAD HOUSE Tbilisi , 7 Gorgasali St. , Tel: 30 30 30 BUFETTI - ITALIAN RESTAURANT Tbilisi , 31 I. Abashidze St. , Tel: 22 49 61 DZVELI SAKHLI Tbilisi , 3 Right embankment , Tel: 92 34 97, 36 53 65, Fax: 98 27 81 IN THE SHADOW OF METEKHI Tbilisi , 29a Tsamebuli Ave. , Tel: 77 93 83, Fax: 77 93 83 SAKURA - JAPANESE RESTAURANT Tbilisi , 29 I. Abashidze St. , Tel: 29 31 08, Fax: 29 31 08 SIANGAN - CHINESE RESTAURANT Tbilisi , 41 Peking St , Tel: 37 96 88 VERA STEAK HOUSE Tbilisi , 37a Kostava St , Tel: 98 37 67 BELLE DE JOUR 29 I. Abashidze str, Tbilisi; Tel: (+995 32) 230 30 30 VONG 31 I. Abashidze str, Tbilisi

Tel: (+995 32) 230 30 30 BRASSERIE L’EXPRESS 14 Chardin str, Tbilisi Tel: (+995 32) 230 30 30 TWO SIDE PARTY CLUB 7 Bambis Rigi, Tbilisi Tel: (+995 32) 230 30 30 Cinemas AKHMETELI Tbilisi. “Akhmeteli” Subway Station Tel: 58 66 69 AMIRANI Tbilisi. 36 Kostava St. Tel: 99 99 55, RUSTAVELI Tbilisi. 5 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 92 03 57, 92 02 85, SAKARTVELO Tbilisi. 2/9 Guramishvili Ave. Tel: 8 322308080, Theatres A. GRIBOEDOV RUSSIAN STATE DRAMA THEATRE Tbilisi. 2 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 93 58 11, Fax: 93 31 15 INDEPENDENT THEATRE Tbilisi. 2 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 98 58 21, Fax: 93 31 15 K. MARJANISHVILI STATE ACADEMIC THEATRE Tbilisi. 8 Marjanishvili St. Tel: 95 35 82, Fax: 95 40 01 M. TUMANISHVILI CINEMA ACTORS THEATRE Tbilisi. 164 Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: 35 31 52, 34 28 99, Fax: 35 01 94 METEKHI – THEATRE OF GEORGIAN NATIONAL BALLET Tbilisi. 69 Balanchivadze St. Tel: (99) 20 22 10 MUSIC AND DRAMATIC STATE THEATRE Tbilisi. 182 Agmashenebeli Ave. Tel: 34 80 90, Fax: 34 80 90 NABADI - GEORGIAN FOLKLORE THEATRE Tbilisi. 19 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 98 99 91 S. AKHMETELI STATE DRAMATIC THEATRE Tbilisi. 8 I. Vekua St. Tel: 62 59 73 SH. RUSTAVELI STATE THEATRE Tbilisi. 17 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 93 65 83, Fax: 99 63 73 TBILISI STATE MARIONETTE THEATRE Tbilisi. 26 Shavteli St. Tel: 98 65 89, Fax: 98 65 89 Z. PALIASHVILI TBILISI STATE THEATRE OF OPERA AND BALLET Tbilisi. 25 Rustaveli Ave. Tel: 98 32 49, Fax: 98 32 50 Galleries ART GALLERY LINE Tbilisi. 44 Leselidze St. BAIA GALLERY Tbilisi. 10 Chardin St. Tel: 75 45 10 GALLERY Tbilisi. 12 Erekle II St. Tel: 93 12 89

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