The News in Brief
Thursday, September 20
Top Trading Partners of Georgia in January-August
In January-August 2018 external merchandise trade of Georgia amounted to USD 8 100.7 million, 22.6 percent higher year-on-year, according to the preliminary data provided by the National Statistics Office of Georgia.
The negative trade balance was USD 3 807.9 million in January-August 2018 and its share in external trade turnover constituted 47.0 percent.
It is worth mentioning that export from Georgia to the European Union (EU) countries amounted to USD 455.8 million (11.4 percent higher compared to the January-August 2017) and constituted 21.2 percent of total exports.
In January-August 2018 export to the CIS countries stood at USD 1 025.6 million (51.3 percent higher compared to the January-August 2017) and reached 47.8 percent of total exports, while imports equaled USD 1 744.9 million (23.7 percent higher) with 29.3 percent in total import. The external trade turnover with the CIS countries totaled USD 2 770.6 million (higher by 32.6 percent). CIS countries accounted for 18.9 percent of the overall trade deficit in the corresponding period.
However, in January-August 2018 share of the top ten trading partners by imports in the total imports of Georgia amounted to 65.4 percent. The top partners were Turkey (USD 939.3 million), Russia (USD 599.2 million) and China (USD 582.5 million).
In January-August 2018 share of the top ten trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 66.2 percent. The top trading partners were Turkey (USD 1 121.7 million), Russia (USD 879.8 million) and China (USD 727.3 million).
Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Leaves Azerbaijani Journalist in Custody
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan considered the lawsuit filed by journalist Afgan Mukhtarli and left him in custody.
Mukhtarli, who was allegedly abducted from Georgia and taken to Baku in May 2017, was accused of “illegal border crossing, smuggling, and resistance or application of violence concerning a representative of authority.”
On 12 January 2018, the Azerbaijani court sentenced Mukhtarli to six years of imprisonment.
It is worth mentioning that Mukhtarli was a political migrant who left Azerbaijan around four years ago. He has accused both the Georgian and Azerbaijani sides of cooperation against him and claims he is a political prisoner. (By Mariam Chanishvili)
In January-August 2018 external merchandise trade of Georgia amounted to USD 8 100.7 million, 22.6 percent higher year-on-year, according to the preliminary data provided by the National Statistics Office of Georgia.
The negative trade balance was USD 3 807.9 million in January-August 2018 and its share in external trade turnover constituted 47.0 percent.
It is worth mentioning that export from Georgia to the European Union (EU) countries amounted to USD 455.8 million (11.4 percent higher compared to the January-August 2017) and constituted 21.2 percent of total exports.
In January-August 2018 export to the CIS countries stood at USD 1 025.6 million (51.3 percent higher compared to the January-August 2017) and reached 47.8 percent of total exports, while imports equaled USD 1 744.9 million (23.7 percent higher) with 29.3 percent in total import. The external trade turnover with the CIS countries totaled USD 2 770.6 million (higher by 32.6 percent). CIS countries accounted for 18.9 percent of the overall trade deficit in the corresponding period.
However, in January-August 2018 share of the top ten trading partners by imports in the total imports of Georgia amounted to 65.4 percent. The top partners were Turkey (USD 939.3 million), Russia (USD 599.2 million) and China (USD 582.5 million).
In January-August 2018 share of the top ten trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 66.2 percent. The top trading partners were Turkey (USD 1 121.7 million), Russia (USD 879.8 million) and China (USD 727.3 million).
Supreme Court of Azerbaijan Leaves Azerbaijani Journalist in Custody
The Supreme Court of Azerbaijan considered the lawsuit filed by journalist Afgan Mukhtarli and left him in custody.
Mukhtarli, who was allegedly abducted from Georgia and taken to Baku in May 2017, was accused of “illegal border crossing, smuggling, and resistance or application of violence concerning a representative of authority.”
On 12 January 2018, the Azerbaijani court sentenced Mukhtarli to six years of imprisonment.
It is worth mentioning that Mukhtarli was a political migrant who left Azerbaijan around four years ago. He has accused both the Georgian and Azerbaijani sides of cooperation against him and claims he is a political prisoner. (By Mariam Chanishvili)