The News in Brief
Thursday, April 19
Prime Minister Gilauri in Brazil
Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri is currently in Brazil, holding meetings with Brazilian business authorities in San Paulo this week. A meeting with the President of the Industry Federation of Brazil and other representatives of the business sector is on the agenda of his visit. The countries will discuss energy and agriculture development in Georgia.
During their visit, the Georgian delegation has already outlined the reforms carried out in the Georgian justice system to Brazilian authorities and participants of the Open Government Partnership summit.
The delegation also arranged a Georgian "village of innovations", which will host visitors for two days and introduce changes to Georgia's justice and public services. Georgia is represented as a reform-exporting country.
Participants at the summit were also briefed about Georgian reforms thanks to the recently-published World Bank book about Georgia.
The Prime Minister has already wrapped up the political part of the visit by meeting with the President of Brazil. Their representatives signed an agreement about the enhancement of economic cooperation between the two countries. (Rustavi 2)
Cornelia Pieper meets with Georgian counterpart
Cornelia Pieper, Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, has paid an official visit to Georgia. Hosted by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nino Kalandadze, the two diplomats discussed enhancement of cultural relations between Georgia and Germany.
Kalandadze discussed the situation in Georgia's disputed territories, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and problems in Russian relations with the German Minister. (Rustavi 2)
Ugulava meets Mayor of Berlin
Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava has paid an official visit to Germany. He met with the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, and discussed cooperation between Berlin and Tbilisi, intensification of cultural ties, and sharing experience in municipal governance.
Ugulava outlined those reforms carried out in the Tbilisi government, including reduction of bureaucratic obstructions in public services. The Mayor hailed the stable business environment in Tbilisi and the support of the government in attraction of foreign investments and the development of tourism. (Rustavi 2)
TB rates in prisons drop thanks to improved training for doctors
The number of the convicts infected with tuberculosis has been reduced, according to the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance. This drop is attributed to the better qualified doctors in the penitentiary system. Minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze awarded medical staff o with certificates Wednesday, as a gesture of thanks.
A major component of the government's anti-tuberculosis program was to reveal the symptoms of the disease in its early phase, by providing screening procedures in prisons. (Rustavi 2)
Ossetian battalion at Tskhinvali military base take oath
Servicemen of the Ossetian battalion of Tskhinvali’s Russian military base were officially sworn in last week, Res reports.
The Ossetian battalion is made up of South Ossetian citizens. The ceremony included Russian and Ossetian hymns, and ended with base personnel marching in formation.
The Ossetian battalion will sign contracts with the Russian military but will remain at the Tskhinvali base, the fourth such base in South Ossetia. (IPN)
Drawing of Receipts begins today
The Georgian Revenue Service began its receipt drawing contest Wednesday. Citizens who have receipts received through purchasing any kind of product will be entered into the draw. Cash prizes, in the amount of 10, 20, 50, 100, 10 000 and 50 000 GEL will be awarded. Draws will be held every day and 9 million GEL will be given away by the end of the year.
The first drawing was held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Tbilisi, and attended by Minister of Finance Dimitry Gvindadze and head of the Revenue Service Jaba Ebanoidze. To take part in the contest, citizens have to gather receipts after any kind of purchase and then simply check whether they’ve bought the lucky receipt.
The Revenue Service has worked out three methods of checking the winning receipt: The participants can use a special form available at www.rs.ge, send messages via mobile operators Geocell and Magti, or use the fast payment instalments (TBC Pay and NOVA). Two unique codes on the receipt (6 digit and 8 digit) must be messaged to the number *200#. Both codes together consist of 14 digits.
The money won can be claimed at Liberty Bank, Corstandard Bank, Privat Bank or Basis Bank within 30 days of winning. The winner must present the receipt and their ID card.
Income taxes will not be deducted from the winners of the 10 000 and 50 000 GEL prizes.
The aforementioned banks and the Georgian Lottery Company have partnered with the Revenue Service for the contest. The Lottery Company worked out a special program that chooses the winning receipts.
A hotline at +(995 32) 2 421 200 will be operational from April 18, as will the website listed above. (IPN)
Georgian Prime Minister Nika Gilauri is currently in Brazil, holding meetings with Brazilian business authorities in San Paulo this week. A meeting with the President of the Industry Federation of Brazil and other representatives of the business sector is on the agenda of his visit. The countries will discuss energy and agriculture development in Georgia.
During their visit, the Georgian delegation has already outlined the reforms carried out in the Georgian justice system to Brazilian authorities and participants of the Open Government Partnership summit.
The delegation also arranged a Georgian "village of innovations", which will host visitors for two days and introduce changes to Georgia's justice and public services. Georgia is represented as a reform-exporting country.
Participants at the summit were also briefed about Georgian reforms thanks to the recently-published World Bank book about Georgia.
The Prime Minister has already wrapped up the political part of the visit by meeting with the President of Brazil. Their representatives signed an agreement about the enhancement of economic cooperation between the two countries. (Rustavi 2)
Cornelia Pieper meets with Georgian counterpart
Cornelia Pieper, Minister of State at the German Foreign Office, has paid an official visit to Georgia. Hosted by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nino Kalandadze, the two diplomats discussed enhancement of cultural relations between Georgia and Germany.
Kalandadze discussed the situation in Georgia's disputed territories, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, and problems in Russian relations with the German Minister. (Rustavi 2)
Ugulava meets Mayor of Berlin
Tbilisi Mayor Gigi Ugulava has paid an official visit to Germany. He met with the Mayor of Berlin, Klaus Wowereit, and discussed cooperation between Berlin and Tbilisi, intensification of cultural ties, and sharing experience in municipal governance.
Ugulava outlined those reforms carried out in the Tbilisi government, including reduction of bureaucratic obstructions in public services. The Mayor hailed the stable business environment in Tbilisi and the support of the government in attraction of foreign investments and the development of tourism. (Rustavi 2)
TB rates in prisons drop thanks to improved training for doctors
The number of the convicts infected with tuberculosis has been reduced, according to the Ministry of Corrections and Legal Assistance. This drop is attributed to the better qualified doctors in the penitentiary system. Minister Khatuna Kalmakhelidze awarded medical staff o with certificates Wednesday, as a gesture of thanks.
A major component of the government's anti-tuberculosis program was to reveal the symptoms of the disease in its early phase, by providing screening procedures in prisons. (Rustavi 2)
Ossetian battalion at Tskhinvali military base take oath
Servicemen of the Ossetian battalion of Tskhinvali’s Russian military base were officially sworn in last week, Res reports.
The Ossetian battalion is made up of South Ossetian citizens. The ceremony included Russian and Ossetian hymns, and ended with base personnel marching in formation.
The Ossetian battalion will sign contracts with the Russian military but will remain at the Tskhinvali base, the fourth such base in South Ossetia. (IPN)
Drawing of Receipts begins today
The Georgian Revenue Service began its receipt drawing contest Wednesday. Citizens who have receipts received through purchasing any kind of product will be entered into the draw. Cash prizes, in the amount of 10, 20, 50, 100, 10 000 and 50 000 GEL will be awarded. Draws will be held every day and 9 million GEL will be given away by the end of the year.
The first drawing was held at the Holiday Inn hotel in Tbilisi, and attended by Minister of Finance Dimitry Gvindadze and head of the Revenue Service Jaba Ebanoidze. To take part in the contest, citizens have to gather receipts after any kind of purchase and then simply check whether they’ve bought the lucky receipt.
The Revenue Service has worked out three methods of checking the winning receipt: The participants can use a special form available at www.rs.ge, send messages via mobile operators Geocell and Magti, or use the fast payment instalments (TBC Pay and NOVA). Two unique codes on the receipt (6 digit and 8 digit) must be messaged to the number *200#. Both codes together consist of 14 digits.
The money won can be claimed at Liberty Bank, Corstandard Bank, Privat Bank or Basis Bank within 30 days of winning. The winner must present the receipt and their ID card.
Income taxes will not be deducted from the winners of the 10 000 and 50 000 GEL prizes.
The aforementioned banks and the Georgian Lottery Company have partnered with the Revenue Service for the contest. The Lottery Company worked out a special program that chooses the winning receipts.
A hotline at +(995 32) 2 421 200 will be operational from April 18, as will the website listed above. (IPN)