Caucasus Business Week #311

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January 27, 2020 - www.cbw.ge

#311

WEEK

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Universal Health Program should be improved.

The Process is in Progress

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Challenges in Vocational Education

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Hospitality Industry Standards in Georgia

Fitch Ratings Confers BB Credit Rating to TBC Leasing

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Banking Sector's December Profit reached 132 million December turned out to be more lucrative than November for the banking sector.

40 New Buses to serve the Capital Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze presented a new 40 units of Isuzu bus to the population of Tbilisi.

Levan Gelbakhiani to receive Award of Best Actor at Guldbagge Awards 2020 Memorandum of Understanding signed between Liberty Bank and Evex Clinics As of today, Liberty Social Card holders will receive up to 50% off outpatient and dental services across the Evex Clinic network throughout Georgia.

Georgia is leading the Way in delivering Fast, Easy, Secure Payments at Checkout Visa today announced that Georgia is now leading the way globally to improve checkout through fast.

From 19 nominations, 4 awards were added to the movie on Guldbagge Awards 2020.

ADB Education Sector Group completed its 10-day Mission in Georgia The mission held meetings with government, private sector and international organizations to prepare vocational education and training program “Modern Skills for Better Jobs.�

150 Million USD to be invested in Tbilisi and Kaspi Wind Power Plants Georgian Renewable Power Company will invest $ 150 million in the construction of wind power plants in Tbilisi and Kaspi.

Rehabilitation of Public Boarding School in Village Magaroskari to be finished Supported by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sport, Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Municipality of Dusheti, full rehabilitation is already finished in public boarding school of the village - Magaroskari.

Memorandum of Understanding signed By GCAA and Georgian Aviation University Director of Georgian Civil Aviation Agency, Levan Karanadze and rector of Georgian Aviation University, Levan Karanadze formed Memorandum of Understanding.

Detailed Map of Export Potential and Energy Capacity of Georgia discussed with Siemens Energy Detailed map of energy capacity and export potential of Georgia with comprehensive coverage of transport and transit aspects, may be developed in partnership with Siemens Energy Corp.

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;

Passenger flow at Georgian Airports up 3 %

Georgian airports served 5,200,419 passengers in 2019 in total, which is a three per cent increase compared to last year, United Airports of Georgia reports.

While Kutaisi and Batumi airports experienced an increase in passenger

flow, Tbilisi actually experienced a decrease.

In 2019, Georgian international airports served: Tbilisi International Airport – 3,692,202 passengers (-3 %v) Kutaisi International Airport - 873,907 passengers (42 %)

Batumi International Airport – 624,178 passengers (4 %) The trend continued in December as well: Tbilisi International Airport - 221,760 passengers (-15 %) Kutaisi International Airport – 82,551 passengers (45 %) Batumi International Airport - 26,239 passengers (42 %) As for local airports of Georgia, in 2019 Mestia and Ambrolauri airports served 10,132 passengers in total which is 23 % more compared to last year.

In 2019 local airports

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served: Mestia Airport – 8,291 passengers (23 %) Ambrolauri Airport 1,866 (23 %) In December 2019, Mestia airport served 595 passengers which is a 97 per cent increase. As for Ambrolauri Airport, it served 67 passengers in December which is 179 per cent more compared to last year.

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Universal Health Program should be improved.

The Process is in Progress Konrad Adenauer Foundation (KAS) and Economic Policy Research Center (EPRC) have prepared a report covering the current situation in the Georgian healthcare sector. According to the document, over the past decade, from 2011 to 2018, various reforms were carried out in the Georgian healthcare sector and the number of clinics rose to 273 from 229.

Frequently, excessive medical infrastructure was developed without a public need, as a result of a poorly thought out universal healthcare program. The key problem is that program budget is growing on an annual basis.

The Caucasus Business Week (CBW) has made inquiries with Akaki Zoidze, the former head of the parliament’s healthcare committee, and Lado Kakhadze, the Deputy Head of the committee, apprise this report, which is called “New Healthcare Reform - The Correct or Incorrect Steps”.

As noted by Akaki Zoidze, the former head of the Parliament’s Committee for Healthcare and social issues and a former member of Georgian Dream, this is a weak document with incoherent recommendations and conclusions.

“At a glance, the is a correct analysis, the indicators are also provided, but the conclusions are very pretentious.

Unilateral, incompetent and very superficial! Interpretations are unilateral; consequently, conclusions are ungrounded. Some conclusions are right, others not so much. I have reiterated many times that today, we have an excessive number of clinics, and we lack doctors and nurses, and this is a major problem in the healthcare sector. I think this was a unilateral conclusion”, Akaki Zoidze noted.

Dimitri Khundadze, the current chairman of the committee, has not answered the CBW phone calls. Unlike Khundadze, his assistant Lado Kakhadze has answered our call. The Georgian Dream’s member says that he does not know the research published by KAS EPRC economic arena, however, he says

that the universal healthcare program is being improved at this stage, “Before 2012, healthcare costs were at 320 million GEL. After Georgian Dream came to power, the universal healthcare program budget exceeded 1 billion GEL. Our citizens used to face various problems and today, they are not alone.

Naturally, the universal healthcare program should be improved, and the process is underway. The problems with costs, efficiency and many other issues will be resolved. The allocations are to resolve problems in a timely manner, and with high quality. We may spend 10 times the amount of money, and receive lower-quality services.

The main thing is that the primary healthcare chain is being improved.

Medicine is a science, not only a pragmatic field. Differentiation is required here. Perfection is a constant process. The main thing is that state healthcare pays a lot of attention to social issues”, Lado Kakhadze noted.

We remind you that in 2012, the total budget of the healthcare programs, including health insurance, was at 332 million GEL. The budget of healthcare program grows on an annual basis, and the budget exceeded 1 billion GEL in 2019, of which 70% was spent on universal healthcare programs. The economic research published by KAS EPRC has primarily analyzed the advantages and shortcomings of the universal healthcare program. A focus was also placed on resolution N520, that calls to even the cost of services under the universal healthcare program.

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Challenges in Vocational Education

A new model for developing vocational education teachers will be introduced. Consequently, salaries of teachers will also increase, in order to attract socalled professional teachers and improve the quality of education, Deputy Education Minister Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.

The hourly salary of a vocational education teacher has almost doubled, compared to 2018. The salaries will further increase by the end of 2020, after the introduction of a new system.

Over the past 2 years, teachers’ salaries doubled, and the hourly salary amounted to 15 GEL, and dramatic growth from 8 GEL, she said.

“Salaries will further increase by the end of 2020, as part of the system and model that will be introduced for developing vocational teachers. We are developing this model with the support of World Bank (WB). Condition for teachers will be improved, in compliance with their professional progress. Naturally, this salary will attract qualified teachers to the vocational education system. It is very important for us to attract professional teachers, because this is a real challenge, and today we need professionals in the vocational education system, such as specialists on information technology, welders, chefs and so on,” Kitiashvili noted.

These changes will allow us to attract professional teachers to this sector, she added.

“This is very important for us to improve quality. A teacher is key in this process, whose quality should be ensured. Simultaneously, a teacher is a bridge between the students and their employment, where students will demonstrate their professional skills”, Kitiashvili pointed out.

The integrated vocational education program will be widely introduced for adolescents with basic education.

Many international reports prove that Georgia faces real problems regarding the employment of human capital and vocational education can play a pivotal role in overcoming this challenge, she noted.

Commenced under the auspices of the EU Association Agreement in 2013, vocational education reform calls for introducing European standards in the field, for both adolescents and adults. Under this reform, a largescale integrated program will be launched this year, Kitiashvili pointed out.

“The new pilot program for young people was launched with the support of the UN in 2016, and it will be introduced widely this year. We will introduce integrated programs. This means that we will offer 9the grade pupils vocational education programs as an extension to their general education component.

These are middle vocational programs. I have also graduated from these courses, at the time. This platform will be used to allow young people to get alternative

diplomas, and acquire new professions. The Ministry will introduce modern programs of this type in 2020”, Kitiashvili said.

A short program associated with BA-level programs will also be introduced, she said “We also have a 2-year program, the highest vocational program. These programs will, with varying degrees of intensity, be related to higher educational programs.

There are programs that we have not launched yet, and we hope that, this year, we will introduce them. These short programs are related to BA-level courses, and the program’s results should recognized as a BA-level education. Consequently, the time for achieving a BAlevel diploma will be shortened,” Kitiashvili said.

As for vocational education for adults, the Deputy Education Minister pointed out that in 2019, an entirely new training technique was introduced, and the government provides quality guarantees.

“Informal education existed the entire time, and informal training will also exist, offered by various organizations. However, our initiative aims to formalize certain programs. This means that the government will guarantee quality. This program has been agreed with employers in advance. These programs have passed through a quality filter quality, and I confirm this with my stamp of approval”, Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.

This year, we will introduce a new standard of authorization for vocational colleges, based on international experience, Kitiashvili noted.

As for coming additions at vocational colleges, this year, a new standard of authorization will be introduced, she added.

“This year we will introduce a new standard of certification, based on international standards, with a so-called European benchmark. The introduction of this standard will further harmonize our standards with international qualifications. Our ambition is that we will work on exchanges and joint programs in 2020, so as to issue international certificates. We have a similar precedent in the developmental sector. So-called BTEC certificates were issued, and SISCO certificates are used

in the IT field, and so on. We want to cover as many certificates as possible. When talking about the system;s modernization, a college is a key, in that it offers and provides services. We plan to carry out many changes here. First, in relation to new standards, we will analyze the college’s structure, their management approaches.

We will revise them, and adapt them to international standards”, Kitiashvili said.

Intense work is underway to popularize vocational education in schools, too, Kitiashvili pointed out.

“We have also prepared a new component - “Vocational Education in Secondary Schools”. We plan to actively engage in secondary schools. This innovation has already applied to 15,000 pupils for 2 years. We offer a two-month orientation program to allow 8-9-grade pupils to work in this or that profession; for example, in the culinary field, and to acquire basic skills, and get familiar with profession. We will also activate certificate programs, where simultaneously with schools, pupils will acquire certain professional skills. Our policy is to expand the vocational education network, and work with successful schools, experienced in these orientation programs. It is possible that they introduce one or two qualification programs to the schools”, Kitiashvili noted.

Large-scale information campaigns will also be carried out for popularizing vocational education, the Deputy Education Minister noted.

“We lack a marketing campaign, and we should improve public awareness. Only donors used to help us in this regard. The budget was always limited here.

This year, we will have stronger support from donors.

Furthermore, we have also allocated funds to carry out large-scale campaigns for both parents and children, and private colleges. Cooperation with them is of vital importance.

School programs have also increased public awareness of vocational education. However, we believe that we can do this better, working with the private sector. We should help parents and pupils in light of vocational education, and that this is a very quick mechanism to work towards self-realization”, Tamar Kitiashvili told Business Partner.

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Fitch Ratings Confers BB Credit Rating to TBC Leasing

W

ith the growth trend and a 32% upturn, the leasing sector has finished 2019 on a high note. Simultaneously, the Fitch rating company has conferred a BB- grade long-term credit rating to TBC Leasing, which is the highest ever credit rating for any of Georgia’s non-bank financial institutions.

What factors have raised demand for leases, and who segments are leaders in this regard? – These issues were discussed on the TV program Business Partner.

As noted by TBC Leasing Director General Gaga Gogua, this success is an easily attainable resource to leading international institutions. This source of funding enables TBC Leasing to communicate with partners and clients by making use of cheaper resources.

As for financial resources that they are looking at for 20202021, TBC Leasing Financial Director Nugzar Loladze explains that in the coming year, the leasing portfolio will rise to 500 million GEL, and additional funds are required for this process.

“We work on a large scale. We plan to attract and invest about 200-250 million GEL in 2020”, Loladze noted.

As for the competition, there are 5 companies on the market, of which two appeared in 2019 and this is very good news for the sector, Gaga Gagua said.

“We are competitors, however, we are, in reality, partners, as we have been developing this business together”, Gagua added.

The Georgian leasing market has doubled over the past two years. TBC Leasing offers products in the fields of production, services, and healthcare. The company also plans to make investments in renewable energy, Nugzar Loladze pointed out.

“Our priority is to increase our visibility, and enter the retail sector, too. We plan to develop the retail business sector. This will be useful for both the environment and consumer behavior”, Nugzar Loladze said. The service sector and production remain priorities in our business portfolio, he added.

“Agribusiness is a very promising field, and this field needs companies at our level in order to make agriculture machines attainable for peasants and farmers,” Nugzar Loladze noted.

Gaga Gogua and Nugzar Loladze stressed that it is necessary to utilize green funding. They also added that in 2020, the emphasis will be placed on purchasing new construction equipment and green funding.

Hospitality Industry Standards in Georgia “We should be focused on Asia, especially on the Chinese tourism market, because all other markets are gradually narrowing.

The statistics proves that Chinese tourists are the highest-spending tourists, anywhere in the world”, Paata Kokaia, founder of the InnGroup network of hotels, told Business Partner.

Today, Kutaisi is one of these prospective destinations for developing hotel infrastructure, from which tourists are able to leave for any direction or destination. Unlike previous years, the flow of tourists is declining, and this trend has affected the hotel business too, Kokaia said.

“Several years ago, our business was looking at dramatic growth.

The number of tourists considerably exceeded the number of suites we could build. Regretfully, this situation has changed

now”, Kokaia noted.

Almost all tourism markets are shrinking, bit by bit. Therefore, the time has come to shift attention to Asia, especially the Chinese market, because China is a major potential tourism market, and Chinese tourists are the highest-spending tourists, he said.

Even the Arab market has changed. Many of them are not let across the border. There were cases when serious businesspeople were not let into the country. It is wonderful that charter flights will open to Thailand, however, China is the biggest market. :Last year’s statistics show that Chinese tourists have spent about 300 billion USD worldwide.

This means that Chinese tourists spend much more money than all tourists from the 9 other countries in the rating”, Kokaia pointed out.

Charter flights should be developed to make use of the Chinese market, the visibility of the country should grow, and visa procedures should be simplified, he added.

“We should satisfy several conditions make better use of the Chinese market’s opportunities.

First, we should prepare commercials about Georgia, the visibility of our country should increase, the Georgian Embassy should be engaged in the process, and visa-issuing procedures should be eased.

We have partners in China, and one of them planned to spend his 10day vacation in Georgia, but he managed to stay here only 2 days, because his vacation time was done by the time he got

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the visa”, Kokaia noted.

As explained by InnGroup’s founder, certain preventive mechanisms should also introduced, so tourists from China don’t stay in the country illegally.

“Some of these tourists may decide to stay in the country illegally, but I have proposed an idea through which travel companies delivering tourists should submit a guaranteed amount of 200,000 USD and a certain portion will be deducted for each tourist illegally staying in the country.

These funds will be spent on finding illegal migrants, and deporting them. This means certain mechanism should exist so that travel companies that don’t deliver everyone will show more caution”, Kokaia said.

8 January 27, 2020 #311

Teo Lezhava: "The Brand must retain the Human Elements, Empathy and most Importantly the Relevance" Interview with the Head of Brand and Human Experience Department at TBC Leasing, Teo Lezhava.

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

I am a journalist by profession, and I later studied Communication Psychology and came into marketing 12 years ago, because of my restless nature.

Then, there were some very interesting and eventful years, and I was learning something new at every stage. I have been working for TBC for the last 6 years, and I think this is the most interesting era to be in marketing. We have a very large and strong team, staffed with professionals in each area, and you can learn a lot from them.

I moved into TBC Leasing a couple of months ago, and responded to a new challenge by joining the Marketing, Human Resources, and Customer Satisfaction Department.

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

On the one hand, technological change gives us great opportunities, though we should not lose touch with humanity.

The brand must retain the human elements, empathy and most importantly, relevance.

It is very important not to fall behind.

Especially nowadays, when time is moving faster than we realize.

I think, along with technological innovations, it is very important to satisfy customers and determine their needs properly.

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

The focus has shifted to the consumer, and that is exactly what dominates the processes. As I mentioned, it is very important to identify the users first, and then start working. Whether it's product creation, change, communication or more.

Until now, communication was one-sided, while today, it’s more interactive, and it’s a marketers’ job to constantly listen to customers. It is no longer enough to make television commercials about how detergents whiten sheets, it is necessary to think of new formats where communication between the brand and the customer will work more

like a conversation, and the company will be able to get the best feedback.

The emergence of the word "human" in my nomination is a reflection of this, as we need to think more about humans, those for whom our product simplify their lives.

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?

One must be curious and keep up-todate, understand the need for a business, and most importantly, maintain relevance in the context of one’s time and space. It is also very important for me to match the value of a company and the brand, if that is the case, one’s productivity will be great, and the working process will be enjoyable.

When the organization is properly structured, the marketer is one of the key strategists, as reaching the goals of the business largely depends on the marketing team.

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

Personally, especially in my new role, now, I am trying to read, watch interesting formats, forms, and communication styles in different directions.

Unfortunately, in our field, leasing, we are not able to take up the best examples, because it is a new product and there is little information on the international market, and there is not much experience. So we compare it with other service companies.

In general, I think that inspiration can be gained not only from the business sector, but also from general knowledge. Ideas may come from science, art, and more.

One word that describes your job.

Dynamics.

What’s the most useful advice you’ve received in your life, and think of a person who inspires you professionally.

I can't really pinpoint one piece of advice or a person, as I have many examples, from different people every day, that help me with my personal and professional development.

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Business News

Gudauri to host Discount Week

Startup Optio.Ai to deliver Innovative AI solution to Basisbank

Initiated by National Tourism Administration and Ski Resorts Development Company, the discount week will start in Gudauri on January 23. The campaign will last through February 5.

Georgian startup Optio.Ai will deliver innovative AI solution to Basisbank. Basisbank makes the 3rd client bank for Optio.Ai within a year. Another crucial milestone is achieved for the development of the startup Optio.Ai, and for the growth of the fintech ecosystem in the region as well.

nounces the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to bring high-speed, low-latency internet coverage to Georgia with JSC Silknet, a leading convergent Georgian telecommunications company.

Hotel to open on the Territory of Ghvinis Karkhana N1

TBC Bank obtains Preliminary Banking Licence in Uzbekistan

A new hotel will launch operation on the territory of Ghvinis Karkhana N1, one of the special locations of Tbilisi. The multifunctional space opened in 2017 and the four-floor hotel will function at the auxiliary building of the complex.

Georgian lender TBC Bank said it had obtained a preliminary banking licence in Uzbekistan.The company said the development was an essential step in the process of launching its banking operations in the country in 'the near future'.

New Hotel Arsiani to be opened in Goderdzi As owner of the hotel, Roland Shantadze declared, officially, the hotel will be opened in the end of January, but they have already started receiving visitors.

Invino - New Wine Bar to be opened in Tbilisi Invino is a new wine bar, which opened in Tbilisi. Nowadays, visitors can taste nearly 500 types of wines. As founders of the bar note, they aim to bring awareness to wine.

The main concept of wine bar is to popularize wines made in small Georgian wine cellars.

Wine Exports hits Highest Number in the History of Georgia In 2019, 94 million bottles (0.75 L) of wine were exported to 53 countries from Georgia.

The indicator has increased by 9% compared to 2018 and hit the highest in the history of independent Georgia. The value of exported wine reaches USD 240 million, up 17% from the same period in 2018.

Silknet signed Memorandum of Understanding with Global Communications Company One Web OneWeb, the global communications company, whose goal is to connect everyone everywhere, an-

Georgian New System Fitness & Spa to maintain Recreational Complexes Fitness & Spa is a maintainer system for swimming pools, fitness clubs, and Spa objects, which is chosen to fit individual requirements of every fitness club. This is the process, which simplifies ways for consumers and moves them to technologically more reliable system.

Georgian Vault Wines introduced Winemaking Asset Management Program in Davos Georgian startup Vault Wines has presented a wine authentication and winemaking asset management program within the Davos World Economic Forum.

The Vault Wines program focuses on the e-commerce wine business, blockchain-based wine authentication and winemaking assets.

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Makharoblishvili About Performance: The play of the modern drama writer and playwright Jordi Galseran “The “THE GRONHOLM Gronholm Method” is the mixture of the METHOD” intellectual thriller and psychological Big Stage detective. The action Jordi Galseran takes place in the office Directed by Temur of the international Chkheidze corporation. There is only 1 vacancy on Cast: position of the Selling Eka Chkheidze, Nika Manager, and 4 Tavadze, Apolon candidates!

Kublashvili, Aleko

Engaged in a brutal battle, each of them is ready to psychologically destroy the enemy in order to achieve the goal.

Duration - 110 minutes, without intermission

11 January 27, 2020 #311 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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