Caucasus Business Week #250 by Caucasian Business Week

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August 13, 2018 - www.cbw.ge

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Tempting Dishes that Bring You to Georgia

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Small Grants Help Former Prison Inmates to Begin New Lives Non-governmental organization Civil Development Agency (CiDA), with the support of the European Union and in partnership with the Georgian Farmers Association and DVV International, is implementing a Training and Employment Support Initiative (TESI) in the criminal justice sector in Georgia.

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New Hazelnut Drying Enterprise Opened in Samegrelo A new enterprise of hazelnut drying and warehouse is opened in the village of Natsatsu, Zugdidi Municipality, which is meant to serve more than 600 farmer’s services.

Tbilisi City Hall to Convey 90 New Buses In the next 9 months Tbilisi will receive 90 new buses, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said. Tegeta Truck&Bus will convey new buses to the capital city.

Radars and Smart Cameras to Supervise Traffic along Kutaisi Bypass Road Budget Raised 107 million GEL from Privatization In the first half of 2018 the state budget raised 107 million GEL from privatization process, including 44 million GEL were raised by local budgets.

According to Interior Ministry, sectional radars will watch Kutaisi bypass road for metering traffic speed. The cameras will be installed in 10 sectors within 31-k section.

PFI Future Plans to Invest 100 Million EUR in Georgia Georgian Corridor Sees 300% Loss in Transit of Kazakh Dark Oil Products Georgian corridor has seen a 300% contraction in transportatio of Kazakh dark oil products. Over the past 1 year, transportation of Kazakh mazut and vacuum gasoil declined 3.1 times.

Mikheil Khidureli, Director of the “Produce Georgia” Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development met with Polish company PFI Future representatives.

Profit of Banks Saw Increase by 8.4% in the First Half of the Year

Radisson Tsinandali to Host Guests from Autumn Radisson Tsinandali is preparing for the opening day. According to GBC, the company has announced vacancies, for people working in the spa and reception. As for the plan, Tsinandali Estate Radisson Collections will be opened by mid-September. The modern and traditional architecture in the hotel harmonizes with each other.

The National Bank of Georgia has published financial indicators of the first half (January-June) of current commercial banks operating in Georgia.

Waste Disposal Landfill to be Built in Terjola The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia has provided the Technical and Construction Supervision Agency for construction of waste disposal landfills.

Tornike Rizhvadze Names Key Challenges of Adjara Region Heavy social situation in villages remains one of the key challenges in the region, Tornike Rizhvadze, head of Adjara Government, noted.

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;

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Outcomes of Unreasonable Privatization Government Loses 5 million GEL from Sales of Economy Ministry Building and Constructing New One. No Investments Made Yet. On June 26, 2015, the building of Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development was sold for 9 450 000 USD. Physical body Tamar Maziashvili bought the building by auction. Later, it was clarified that Tamar Maziashvili represents Chinese Hualing Group. The company confirmed this fact. Starting April 1, 2016 Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development rented the building at Chovelidze Street N10, Tbilisi, from LLC Business Center Belinski. Monthly rental was 75 000 USD. Total rental of the building in 2016 constituted 675 000 USD. The building was furnished by due furniture for working process, material-technical basis and parking space. However, Ministry of Economy spent 33 600 GEL on arranging Internet network in the building. As to 2017, Ministry of Economy spent 900 000 USD in rental and if we take into account the first quarter of 2018, in 2016-2018 Ministry of Economy has spent 1.8 million USD on only rental (in April 2018 the Ministry moved to Justice House, on the territory of former Energy Ministry). The world practice suggests that, when a government office sells its own property in the center of a city, to a private investor, it moves to a cheaper building at the outskirts. The government office may either construct a new building or overhaul an old state-owned building. Similar measures are taken for cost-efficiency purposes, however, the case with Georgian Minis-

try of Economy and Sustainable Development has no relation with cost-efficient purposes. The state budget has raised 9.45 million USD from sales of the building of Ministry of Economy, however, Ministry of Economy spent about 2 million USD after moving to the new building, which makes up 19% of the privatization amount. At the same time, the 2018 state budget comprises expenditures of 30 million GEL for constructing a new building of Ministry of Economy. Under the current exchange rate ($1=2.46 GEL), this signifies a construction of the new building will cost 12.19 million USD, while the state budget collected only 9.45 million USD from sales of the old building. At the same time , if we deduct 1.8 million USD rental, the funds raised from privatization will be reduced to 7.65 million USD. As as result of â&#x20AC;&#x153;valuable and professionalâ&#x20AC;? plan by former and acting Ministers of Economy, the state budget losses from sales of the old building and constructing a new one made up 5 million USD. At the same time, hotel construction works have not started at the former building of Economy Ministry. More than 2 years have passed since the building privatization, but Hualing Group does not specify the time for starting works. At this stage, the investor has agreed only a preliminary design with Tbilisi City Hall. Under the project, the investor plans to broaden the existing building, however, the company has not agreed a detailed project with Tbilisi City Hall. Consequently, the company has not received a building license either.

According to National Property Agency, Hualing Group is to fulfill investment obligations until April 20, 2019. In this period the company must open a hotel with at least 100 suites. If the company fails investment obligations and there is much probability for that, the company is expected to be fined, However, the Georgian experience shows that similar major business companies are fined rarely. As a rule, the Government revises investment obligations and business companies maintain stateowned properties for lower prices, when properties are worth of several millions of GEL. Under current reality, it is impossible to build a hotel with 100 suites up to April 20, 2019. Consequently, the time will show whether Government imposes fines on the large Chinese business group. Otherwise, we will have one more fact, how the investor will maintain the state-owned property despite violation of preliminarily agreed conditions. The case with the building of Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is an evident proof of Georgia's unreasonable privatization policy, which is carried out without any strategy or preliminary calculations. As a result, we receive the situation, when the Ministry was to save budget funds by sales of its building in the center of Tbilisi and through constructing a cheaper building, but we have received absolute opposite reality.

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Strong Tourism Results in the First Part of 2018 as Tourist Season Booms A total of 18 new hotels have opened in Georgia since January 2018. According to National Tourism Administration, 1624 new beds and 812 new suites were added to the tourism sector. According to the Forbes Georgia, seven branded hotels have also opened among mentioned 18 hotels, of which Stamba hotel is the largest one with 205 suites and 400 beds. Ramada Encore Tbilisi is the next with 152 suites and 250 beds. Moxy hotel has united 130 suites and 260 beds in Tbilisi. One more branded hotel Timber Boutique Hotel has opened in Tbilisi with 18 suites. As to regions, Hotel Porta Caucasia Kazbegi opened in Kazbegi, Akhasheni Wine

Resort in Kakheti Region with 41 suits. Abmassadori Kachreti with 120 suites was also expanded. Since January 2018, the most part of suites (505 ones) opened in Tbilisi. Kakheti Region ranks second with 155 suites and Samtskhe-Javakheti Region is third with 54 suites. As to the hotels under construction in regions, the most number of new hotels will be built in Tbilisi. In whole, there are 2196 accommodation facilities in Georgia, including 827 hotels, 811 guesthouses, 398 hotel-style accommodation facilities, 160 various facilities. A total of 219 hotels are planned to open in Georgia in 2018-2019. As a result, the country will receive 12 748 new hotel suites, including the most part of suites will be united by TWIN Tower in Batumi (350 suites), which will open in 2018. Moreover, 200-suite Radisson Park Inn will open in Tbilisi and 165-suite Hilton Garden Inn in 2018. For the first time in Georgia, in 2018, revenues from international tourism will exceed 3 billion USD, Giorgi Chogovadze, head of National Tourism Administration noted at a news conference a month ago. “In June, the inflow of tourists rose by 21% compared to June 2017. The January-June average indicator is also very successful. It is important to note, besides the current year is a record year in terms of tourist inflows, the country will also have record revenues. For the first time in Georgia, revenues from international tourism will exceed 3 billion USD”, Chogovadze noted. According to early report by National Tourism Administration, under the January-April 2018 indicators, revenues from foreign tourism made up 799 million USD (up 28.4%), up 177 million USD compared to the same period of 2017. As of first quarter of 2018, revenues from foreign tourism constituted 551 million USD (up 26.7%), up 116 million USD compared to the same period of 2017. According to the 2017 consolidated indicators, revenues from foreign tourism made up 2.75 billion USD (2 751 279 624 USD), up 27% (+585 million USD), year on year. Ratio of tourism in GDP

makes up 6.8% according to JanuaryMarch indicators, up 16.6% year on year. According to the 2017 indicators, ratio in total GDP constituted 6.9%, up 13% year on year, the information published by National Tourism Administration says. The Caucasus Business Week (CBW) has inquired how summer resort season proceeds at Georgian resorts and how prepared specific regions have met the summer season. The resort season has entered active phase in Svaneti Region, however, it turned out that the disordered motorway to Mestia is a major challenge and this factor declined the number of tourists. Summer tourism season in Adjara Region officially opened on June 3 and, like the previous year, the region expects a huge inflow of holidaymakers. As to Kobuleti, the season opened with spectacular

“It takes 3 hours to get here from Zugdidi, while only 1 hour is required in reality. There were plans for building a tunnel, but nothing has been done till today. Airplanes fly in good weather. It should be noted that these airplanes have only 15 seats and tourists may be left outside”, Mzia Tskhadadze noted. Expensive electricity and a lack of natural gas is another key problem in Svaneti. These components grow expenditures of local entrepreneurs. Number of visitors grows and soon the region will face deficit of electricity. “Electricity is very expensive. There is no natural gas supply. Therefore, we have to consume huge volume of electricity. Power pressure is also invaluable. Sometimes, it is very low, sometimes very high. It would be better that the local board prioritize natural gas, which would considerably lower our expenditures”, Vladimer Gazdeliani noted. Representatives of hotels point to suspended cable ways: “Cable ways should valuably operate in winter period for people, who visit the Region for skiing. Both cable ways must work, but they have not worked almost the whole winter season.

Electricity transmission lines are overloaded, especially in winter period, because hotels use huge volume of power. Electricity should be replaced, otherwise the consumption peaked 20 megawatt an hour in winter period, while 5 years ago this figure was only 3 megawatts”, Neli Naveriani said. As to cable way suspension, Hatsvali cable way has not ceased operation. As to Tetnuldi cable way, it genuinely suspended operation untimely. Tetnuldi could operate two month longer, because snow does not melt there foe a long period, the first deputy mayor confirmed. It will take several years to develop tourism sector in Kakheti Region, Governor Irakli Kadagishvili says. The region still has problems with motorways, 24-hour water supply. These problems arose in the region in 2013-2014, but the rehabilitation works are being performed for several years. “In Kakheti, infrastructure should be arranged to have European-standard tourism opportunities. The infrastructure is improved year to year. As to hosting tourists, we have not reached valuable readiness yet”, the Governor said. “This year we will start a full rehabilitation of Telavi and 24-hour water supply will be ensured. This problem will be removed for ever at the end of 2019. Water supply problems will be also resolved in Kvareli, Lagodekhi, Tsnori, Signaghi, Sagarejo and Gurjaani by the

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ceremonies on July 1. According to Adjara Tourism and Resorts Department, in 2018 the region will meet tourists with new tourism routes, accommodation places, tourism services and international festivals. Moreover, in 2018 Adjara Region will meet tourists with 426 registered hotels and about 22 000 suites. The mentioned hotels will serve top, middle and lowbudget segments. As to food facilities, there are more than 400 registered restaurants and cafes in summer season in Adjara Region. Vladimer Gazdeliani, manager general for Banguriani hotel in Mestia, says that tourists inflow has considerably increased. The hotel's workload has increased by about 30% compared to previous years. The inflow would be higher if the local motorway to Mestia had been rehabilitated and brought in order, he added. “Motorways create major challenge in Svaneti. Without this problem, number of tourists would hike. Tourists abstain from visiting Svaneti, because the disordered motorways protract trip time. This factor frustrates business development, because tourists feel uncomfortable”, Vladimer Gazdeliani said. Number of visitors declined at Tetnudli hotel, compared to 2017. The hotel director Mzia Tskhadadze agrees with Gazdeliani and says that invaluable road infrastructure frustrates tourism sector development.

And this factor have inflicted much loss to our business, because arrived tourists moved to other resorts”, Mzia Tskhadadze said. Neli Naveriani, first deputy mayor of Mestia Municipality, says that Svaneti is developed dynamically. Djvari-Mestia motorway and tunnel construction works are in active phase and this project will cut transportation time to Lentekhi-Mestia by 1.5 hours. “I would not say that there are no problems in the Djvari-Mestia section, but the existing problems are not ignored. Serious strengthening works are underway in certain sections. In due time, Government made invaluable motorway and arrangement works proceed in these sections even today. Hedges, concrete works are being performed. In practice, this motorway is laid anew”, Neli Naveriani said. The first deputy mayor of Mestia Municipality proves that electricity consumption has considerably increased in Mestia and natural gas supply would tackle this problem, but this project may be implemented only after building a tunnel. “Natural gas supply would remove any problems, small and medium business would not depend on electricity entirely.

of 2018”, Irakli Kadagishvili said. Only motorway to Tusheti was obstructed by a huge volume of rock that slipped down near the village of Khisso and the river Alazani was ponded. But in early June the motorway opened again. At this stage, special machines work in dangerous sections to perform cleaning works, the Governor said. As to the gasification issue in the Region. At this stage, various important projects are underway. 95% of Kakheti residents will be connected to natural gas supply network for two years, Irakli Kadagishvili told the Commersant. “Gasification process will be completed in several villages of Lagodekhi in July 2018, while, gasification works in the village of Kedetebi, Dedoplistskaro District, will end in 2019”, Irakli Kadagishvili said. When talking about current problems on motorways, Kadagishvili said that highway construction works and rural roads arrangement works are being performed on permanent basis. Bakurtsikhe-Tsnori and Velistsikhe-Telavi road construction works will start in 2019, while, BakurtsikheGurjaani bypass road construction works will end in near future, Kadagishvili said.

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socialization program at the Crime Prevention Center, have received financial support to pursue economic activities in the fields of agriculture, service, construction and tourism. Many people in conflict with the law are highly interested in running small businesses as this is considered an effective means of self-employment. Accordingly, within the framework of the project

opportunities, development of economic opportunities and reintegration of convicts, ex-convicts, diverted persons, as well as persons serving conditional sentences and their families. Together with educational activities, the project actively assists people who have been in conflict with the law to establish themselves on the labour market and demonstrate their skill and ability in small business development. To reach defined goals, CiDA is cooperating with state agencies working in the judiciary system, including the Ministry of Justice of Georgia. At this stage, in partnership with the Ministry of Justice, CiDA is carrying out another project entitled Supporting Economic Growth of Former Inmates. Within the project, business initiatives of the beneficiaries, who are engaged in the rehabilitation and re-

more than 40 former inmates have already received small grants for their start-ups and a further 70 will be financed before the project concludes. The distribution of grants among the winning beneficiaries started few months ago. The beneficiaries been provided with various technical equipment necessary to launch their businesses in Tbilisi and all across Georgia. The grant amount per person ranges between GEL 3000 and GEL 5000. Gogita is a tailor based in Tbilisi. He participated in a grant competition and, after receiving a grant, bought a multi-functional sewing machine which enables him to create material designs as he desires. Gogita and his spouse have created their own brand “Kids Land”, mainly working on baby products. “This multifunctional sewing machine has all the mechanisms necessary

to create a comfortable baby belt. We could not have afforded to buy this item without the financial support. As our products are for babies, we try to use natural products. We are currently fulfilling orders from both Tbilisi and the regions, where we send the finished products via the postal service,” said Gogita. Marina, a dairy farmer, lives in a remote village in Kvemo Kartli region. Having struggled financially, the project helped her to buy cows that would become her family’s only source of income. “My usual day begins at 6am. The first thing on my agenda is my cow, Brola, I take care of her, milk her and then send her to the herd of cattle. Brola provides 10 liters of milk every day. I make yogurt and cheese, collect it for 3-4 days, and then my spouse takes it to the local market. My income has increased and in the near future I am going to expand my farm and buy some other cattle,” said Marina. Zura, a former footballer, learned a new trade in prison where he learned carpentry. After receiving a small grant, he bought all of the relevant equipment and started his own small business in Adjara. “I receive orders, mainly from tourists. Now, summer, is a good season to run my small business in Batumi. It

not easy to find a job after leaving prison, so I am glad to have found my own job. I am going to stage an exhibition of my works, then I will think about expanding my business and opening a small studio employing others as well,” said Zura. According to the project manager Nino Demetrashvili, overall, the projects help former inmates to find employment, to receive professional education and to set and achieve new life goals in their new careers. She claimed that business grants help the project beneficiaries to engage, feel empowered and take advantage of economic opportunities that will make them far less likely to re-offend.

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Dali Pridonashvili: ‘’Successful Communication with Public can’t be Achieved if Product doesn’t Allow it’’ Interview with Dali Pridonashvili, Head of Advertising and Public Relations Department of "Icy-Gurjaani Ice Cream". Why did you decide to enter this field, and what kind of opportunities does this profession give you? I am a psychologist by education,my initial obsession was psychology of theater and worked on the thesis, but then, when I got into television as a journalist, I realized how interesting this world was. This field is so diverse, depends on many factors and holds a big perspective for a specialist. This was the time where I got into one more interesting profession as a psychologistadvertising and PR. As a result, I founded advertising studio-I was studying by myself, gathered witty, smart people around. That’s when I got in touch with Gurjaani Ice Cream and since 2000, I manage advertising and public relations of the company. Public itself is very dynamic and developing organism, consequently relations with them doesn’t allow you career stagnation.

I think the knowledge of theoretical and fundamental grounds is essential in this field. I have my experience with my own practice and I feel constantly needed to acquire more knowledge. PR specialist should catch up with those innovations and technologies that are rapidly developing in this varied field offers. You need to thoroughly learn about your company, each nuance can help for successful PR. How do you go about finding relevant contacts and sources? Since 1987, I have had many interesting work experiences in both private or public structures. My copyright program connected me to interesting respondents. Consequently, I collected many contacts and friendly relationships. Even if I didn’t have such experience, it still wouldn’t be too hard, as we have to live in the world holding numerous ways to spread and get information.

What is it necessary to hold successful communication with the public?

How would you prioritize and start your work day?

The ultimate goal of the public relations is the realization of the product that your company offers to people, and therefore, I believe key to successful communication is knowing company’s product well and offering it the right way to public. Besides, constantly being aware of what the market offers, even competitors. You must constantly change the forms, methods, expressions, and still, I will tell you the example of my company-you can not achieve any successful relationship with the public if the product does not allow it. The product can be successfully packed temporarily, but the positive and loyal, long-term dependence of the society happens only with high-quality, distinctive product-for example, like ice cream with a unique taste of Gurjaani.

First I read news and get information, I check e-mail and customers’ feedback, then I update website with our news. I keep my day going with my notebook- when you communicate with many people, your mind is loaded with lots of things to think about, it makes you make decisions simultaneously, so it’s better note down everything and control your schedule this way.

What three tips would you offer someone just starting out in PR?

What are the skills a Public Relations Specialist needs? Professional knowledge is crucial in this field, some special personal characteristics is also important, like: flexibility, intelligence and creative mind. One must have ability to communicate efficiently and convince others. It is also important that you are deeply aware of your own company's activities, do not skip any novelty and interesting nuances, always

keep your company’s pulse. PR manager is somehow face of the company, therefore its reputation depends on how well this person doing her job. What trait do you value the most in your co-workers? The main dignity of a person is his inner sincerity and honesty. Naturally noble person shows his traits everywhere, whether it’s home,street or work. In the working environment, the main discipline are: sense of responsibility, the mind consciousness, the rapidly foreseeing and evaluating eventsquick response to crisis situations. What is the best PR practice that technology can’t change? No technology can change face-to-face relationship,sharing emotions, that’s when you learn what people need, what they react on or are happy about. I think, technology is a helping hand. What are some growing trends in the public relations industry? This field has quite changed, comparing to two, five or ten years ago. Methods and demand have changed as well, as PR is keeping up with the novelties. To my opinion, soon there will be something else rather than Facebook, Twitter, Youtube, Linkedin and other social medias, something that we don’t know of yet, and it will affect people’s relationships, therefore relationships between PR specialists and pubic too. However, the main thing in this field is to study the brain skills and its capabilities, and to discover such technologies that can contribute to the study of human nature.

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Business News Winery Khareba to Build Hotels All Over Georgia

Best Western Hotel Opened in Tbilisi Center, Vake District

Winery Khareba plans to build hotels all over Georgia , the company director general Giorgi Ezugbaia told BM.GE. This year the company opened four-star hotel PORTA CAUCASIA in Kazbegi and at this stage the company also considers other locations too.

The Best Western Tbilisi Hotel Center was opened in Vake, located by Round Garden. The hotel is the sixth in this network in Georgia and second in Tbilisi after the Best Western Tbilisi Art Hotel. Batumi Ship Offers Cruise Services to Region Visitors Batumi ship offers a 4-hour voyage to the region visitors. The price of an hour voyage is 50 GEL. Batumi ship is owned by Adjara Boat company and it is able to host 250 passengers simultaneously. Georgian DJ Opened 24-Hour Club in London

Geoblockchain Starts Collaboration with Bloccelerate

Georgian DJ Lasha Zhorzholiani, also known as Voicerone opened 24-hour club in the East part of London. This will be the first club to host 600 guests and stay open 24/7, as Lasha said at Commersant.

We are excited to announce a partnership between GeoBlockchain and Bloccelerate! GeoBlockchain facilitates the long-term development of blockchain technology in the country of Georgia and the integration of blockchain in the global community through the exploration and expansion of the innovative potential of technology.

Georgia Earns $107 million by Exporting Wine in January-July

RMG Works on Enterprise Re-equipment and Introduction of Modern Technologies with Environmental Project

According to official state resource, Georgia exported 45.4 million bottles of wine to 50 countries in January-July of 2018, and earned about $107.8 million from the export.

Several months have passed since the company RMG received specific comments from the Ministry of Environment Protection and the Ministry of Agriculture and directly from its head. The case concerned actions to eliminate soil and river Kazretula pollution. The deadline for the completion of works was set to December 31, 2020.

Eighteen New Hotels Open Since January A total of 18 new hotels were unveiled in Georgia since January 2018. According to National Tourism Administration, a total of 1624 new beds and 812 new suites were added to the tourism sector of Georgia. Levan Zazarashvili’s Work is the Choice of Packaging of the World Work of Levan Zazarashvili Tsisferkantselebi has been listed among best packaging designs at Packaging of the World platform.

Georgian Wine Tasting held in South Korea and Singapore The National Wine Agency contractor company “Meiburg Wine Media” organized Georgian wine tasting in Singapore and South Korea.

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Tempting Dishes that Bring You to Georgia Georgian traditional cuisine is one of the richest and diverse cuisines worldwide. For many years Georgia has not only maintained its dishes, but also introduced the on foreign markets. As a result, Georgia was mentioned in the top list the most delicious European cuisines developed by the US edition the Thrillist. In the rating Georgia ranked fourth after Italy, France and Spain among 48 European countries and surpassed gastronomic achievements of such countries as Germany, Belgium, Croatia, Switzerland, Portugal, Hungary and Greece. The edition named Khachapuri as a key forward of Georgian national cuisine. The Marketer.ge has also written that Georgian dishes are one of the key motivators for many tourists to visit Georgia.

The Caucasus Business Week has interviewed several chefs about the following questions: which dishes have potential to emphasize Georgia's peculiarity worldwide?

Chef Inga Tsulaia Ambassador Tbilisi Hotel «Georgia has huge potential for developing gastronomic tourism. Our traditional dishes are very popular in post-Soviet space, but it is very important that the interest in our gastronomy grows day to day in Europe and USA. Explosive articles by foreign media about Georgian food such as the Washington Post, New York Times and so on prove this consideration. At restaurants of our hotel tourists are mostly interested in Ghomi, seasonal Pkhali, especially Mchadi and natural Georgian cheese. Ambassador Hotel permanently takes efforts to attract foreign tourists through various combination of Georgian traditional products. Consequently, we have replenished our menu by such innovative products as fried curds with mint, which has become a brand product for our restaurants. We can use peculiarity of Curds to develop Georgia's brand product jointly with other traditional supplements. The hotel expresses very well how important element gastronomy is for tourism sector. Foreign guests visit our restaurants thanks to recommendations by other visitors and this signifies Georgian food in this field occupies leading positions», Tsulaia noted.

Chef Giorgi Saradjishvili Giorgi Saradjishvili pointed out that Ajika, unique Georgian sauce is made in Georgia from seasonings that grow only in our country, for example, yellow flower. «Many other dishes and sauces have the same potential to be recognized abroad. For example: tomato sauce, Kebab sauce, blackberry Tkemali, raspberry Tkemali, which are innovative products. Moreover, we have peach Adjika, apricot Adjika and this process tends to move to fusion, based on traditional dishes. From my experience, pumpkin and almond sauce is also very interesting for foreign consumers. I would also mention pastry – Adjarian Khachapuri, Khabidzgina, Pkhlovana, Svanetian Khachapuri. As to dinners, I would name Kalia, which is an ancient dish. Moreover, Chakapuli, Kharcho, Elarji would be interesting for foreign consumers, as well as Pheasant Chakapuli, which was cooked with pomegranate juice in the period of King Vakhtang Gorgasali. «Georgian gastronomy is worthy to be recognized worldwide, because we genuinely have unique cuisine and not many countries have such treasure. All chains are important and interesting in this field», chef Levan Kobiashvili said.

Chef Nikolai Isnard and His Team Member Devi Tavernier Qalaqi Restaurant Nata Nizharadze, PR Manager for Qalaqi Restaurant «We have 50 dishes in our menu and foreign tourists are inspired by Megruli Kharcho and Nuts Sorbet. Our restaurant has menus developed by French chef with Micheline star Nikolai Isnard and his team member Devi Tavernier. For a year our chefs were working on studying Georgian tastes and developing Georgian fusion. As a result of these efforts, we have developed a unique menu for Qalaqi restaurant. We have both traditional dishes, fusion of Georgian dishes, very tasteful samples of world cuisines and gastronomic menu, developed exclusively by Micheline star owner chef Nikoalui Isnard for us. French chefs have worked on making dishes lighter for foreign clients. Megruli Kharcho is one of similar dishes and foreign visitors are inspired by it. In our restaurant we have two sorts of Megruli Kharcho – the first one, for those who fast and another – with meat. Nuts Sorbet is a product developed by our chefs and their friends. This is an exclusive product for us. Nuts Sorbet is added to Megruli Kharcho, which is melted and dish is distributed equally.

Ghomi with lemon gel inspire foreign visitors, as it adds special piquantness to this dish. We can openly take pride in this dish. Our chefs have developed unique menu. Even Khachapuri with changed structure is the most delicious dish at our restaurant, Nata Nizharadze said.

Chef Jumber Khundadze, director general for Kakhelebi restaurant: «80% of visitors at our restaurant are foreign citizens and they show huge interest in traditional Georgian dishes, including Khinkali, Khachapuri, Bughlama, Mtsvadi, as well as Jigari in tomato», Khundadze noted.

Chef Levan Kobiashvili Georgia's gastronomy is a special one among other cuisines of the world, chef Levan Kobiashvili said. Acquaintance with its components, uniqueness raises interest in representatives of various countries. It is necessary that distinct chefs and government and private sectors activate efforts for the field development, he added. «Georgian gastronomy is worthy to be recognized worldwide, because we genuinely have unique cuisine and not many countries have such treasure. All chains are important and interesting in this field», chef Levan Kobiashvili said.

Chef Giorgi Iosava Founder of Baia Salobie «In Salobie Baia, we make accent on Georgian vegetarian direction. Over the past period, 90% of clients are tourists from Germany, the USA, Poland and so on. Russian visitors do not like, because they prefer Khinkali an Kebab, but European and American clients are shocked. This is a certain trend, a half part of the world has become vegetarian and in this respect Georgian cuisine has much potential. For example, Khachapuri has much potential, as well as the whole Georgian vegetarian cuisine – beans, Pkhalueoba (edible greens) and so on. We have a rich country in this respect. We have not fully explored all potential of our treasure and we should gradually disclose this treasure from old books.

Guram Baghdoshvili, Owner of Anona Restaurante, ChefAdvisor « Khachapuri and Khinkali are the most popular dishes that may be appraised as Georgia's brand products. Chanakhi, Chakapuli and wine Tolma should be also mentioned. In Georgia of the 21st century, we have the tendency of revival of ancient Georgian dishes and I welcome this process. We need educated chefs to promote this process and we have serious challenges in this respect. This direction was actualized several years ago, but serious chefs, masters are not invited, who would hold master-classes and develop this direction. Key accent is made on tourism and we have low level of services. Investments should be made in sommeliers, barmen, chefs. For example, I have ancient dishes in our menu such as Ospi, Chakapuli Resoto, which is a new dish», Baghdoshvili said.

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14, 15, 16 September THE NEW RIGA THEATRE / BARYSHNIKOV PRODUCTIONS Based on the poems of Joseph Brodsky BRODSKY/BARYSHNIKOV Drama/one man show Directed by Alvis Hermanis Venue: Kote Marjanishvili State Drama theatre Duration: 90 min. without intermission 20:00 16 September The Staatstheater Karlsruhe, Germany / Royal District Theatre, Georgia Davit Gabunia TIGER AND LION Directed by Data Tavadze Venue: Royal District Theatre Duration: 100 minutes, without intermission 20:00 17, 18 September Cieque Eloize, Canada Dave St-Pierre and Jeannot Painchaud CIRKOPOLIS Directed by Dave St-Pierre and Jeannot Painchaud Venue: Griboedov theatre Duration: 85 minutes, without intermission 20:00

Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe / Royal District Theatre Tbilisi Tiger and Lion Davit Gabunia Drama Directed by: Data Tavadze Composer: Nika Pasuri Designer: Sebastian Hannak Fhotografe: Felix Grünschloss Duration: Approximately 90 minutes, without intermission Cast: Annagerlinde Dodenhoff , Timo Tank , Antonia Mohr , Sonja Viegener, Gunnar Schmidt, Alexander Küsters.

Participatory Theatre. From fall 2018, the three major departments (opera, ballet, drama) are led by women. The theatre looks back on 300 years of history: Founded in 1719 as the court theatre, parallel to the built-up of the city, it has always been open to the general public. The theatre is an active member in several international networks, among them Opera Europa and the European Theatre convention ETC, as a partner of the Kote Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre. Their latest collaboration, the digital theatre experience “Stage your City”, was premiered in April 2018 in Nancy, France. www.staatstheater.karlsruhe.de

bining the biographies from the bloody history of Soviet Georgia. Tizian Tabidze, Olga Okujava, Mikjeil Javakhishvili... are among those whose tragic destinies are reflected in the play; centering on Paolo Iashvili’s “provocative” suicide, at the former Writers’ Union (Machabeli Street), the tragedy witnessed by stuffed figures of the lion and the tiger, kept in the same house up till present. In German-Georgian co-production the director Data Tavadze and the playwright Davit Gabunia together with the German actors of Staatstheater Karlsruhe present a distanced and strict analysis of the tragic events.

About Performance:

The artistic team attempts to find the starting points from where “history should start”.

20 September The Tiger Lillies, UK EDGAR ALLAN POE’S HAUNTED PALACE FEATURING THE TIGER LILLIES Directed by Paul Golub Venue: Kote Marjanishvili State Drama theatre Duration: 90 min. without intermission 20:00 23 September Thalia Theater, Germany Nino Kharatishvili THE EIGHTH LIFE (FOR BRILKA) Directed by Jette Steckel Venue: Shota Rustaveli State Drama Theatre Duration: 295 with 2 intermissions 19:00 26 September ZhaoLiangART MARTIAL ART IN DANCE Directed by Zhao Liang Venue: Griboedov theatre Duration: 70 minutes, without intermission 20:00 26 September Theatre History: SthlmsMusikTeater SMT, Sweden Text and music by Jan Erik Saaf The Staatstheater Karlsruhe is FREUDS CIGAR THE ONE MAN MUSICAL ABOUT SIGMUND one of the largest multi-departFREUD ment theatres in Europe, with 750 Directed by Andrias Boonstra Venue: Kote Marjanishvili State Drama theatre, small permanent employees presenting stage around 900 performances to more Duration:90 without intermission 20:00 than 330.000 spectators annually. 30 September Hands Percussion, Malaisya South East Asia Music, Contemporary Percussion DIALOGUE IN SKIN Artistic Director Bernard Goh Venue: Kote Marjanishvili State Drama theatre Duration: 85 with 1 intermission 20:00

In addition to the four classical departments – opera, concert, ballet and drama – two new departments were created since Peter Spuhler took over as general manager in 2011: Children and Youth and

In 1937, during the Great Terror numerous Georgian artists and intellectuals fell as victims of Stalin’s purges, including over 100 writers. What happens when the State establishes a total control and tries to exterminate every single attempt of free expression? Tiger and Lion is a fictional play, though based on true stories, where characters have no names. They are collective images, com-

World News

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Oscars Adds “Popular” Film Category The organisers of the Oscars said on Wednesday they would create a new award category for popular movies and limit the annual televised ceremony to three hours.

Azerbaijan’s women entrepreneurs focus on export of products under national brand to markets of CIS and Europe Baku, Tehran could Boost Cooperation Over Hydrocarbon Exploration in Caspian Sea Mohammad Torabi, the head of Iran’s operational zone at the Caspian Sea, hopes that Tehran and Baku could boost their cooperation over the exploration and development of hydrocarbon reserves in the sea.

The dynamic development of women's entrepreneurship in Azerbaijan will contribute to the creation of new brands and the export of products to foreign markets in the CIS and Europe in the future, chairperson of the board of the Azerbaijan Women Entrepreneurs Association Sakina Babayeva told Trend, assessing the current level of development of women's entrepreneurship in the country.

Google Creates Special Search Engine for China Google works on a special search engine project that will be available only for China. The project titled Dragonfly will be subordinated to Chinese censorship and will block such information as human rights, religion and other similar issues.

UNWTO Launches First and Largest Competition For Tourism Startups

World Bank appoints CBA for first bond deal on blockchain

The World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) is conducting a global hunt for tourism startups that want to transform the industry. The organization, which is part of the United Nations, has announced that it’s partnering with Globalia, a leading tourism group in Spain and Latin America, to launch of the first UNWTO Tourism Startup Competition.

The World Bank has turned to Commonwealth Bank of Australia to issue a bond using blockchain technology, in a deal that suggests a more transparent and lower-cost process for debt capital issuance is just around the corner.

Turkey to Outline 'New Economic Model' as Currency Slides Turkey's government says it will outline a "new economic model" on Friday as the national currency hit another record low amid concerns about the president's policies and an ongoing dispute with the U.S. The lira, which has fallen about 30 percent since the start of the year, dropped to another low of 5.47 against the dollar on Thursday.

Stockholm is one of the best EdTech cities in the world Armenia to found new factory with USD 850k investment Business Armenia has signed a memorandum of understanding on investment of USD 850,000 and a construction of a new stainless steel equipment producing factory.

The Swedish capital placed high on the latest ranking of the world’s best EdTech environments. Among the listed 20 cities it came in 10th place and was the only Nordic city on the list.

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15 13,2018 2018#249 #250 August 6, 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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