Issue 130: Poverty in Georgia (2010-2020)
12-Oct-2021
Poverty alleviation remains one of the biggest challenges for the world, including Georgia. Methods applied to determine the poverty rate vary from country to country, so in order to gain a broad understanding of the current situation regarding poverty in Georgia at the international level, it is important to take into account a variety of indicators. In 2020, GDP per capita in Georgia amounted to 4279 USD, ranking it 122nd in the world and 3rd among Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries. Meanwhile, the Human Capital Index (HCI) calculates the contributions of health and education to worker productivity with Georgia scoring 0.57 in 2020, ranking 85th out of 174 countries world and having the lowest score among EaP countries.Multidimensional poverty encompasses various forms of deprivation experienced by poor people such as poor health, lack of education, inadequate living standards, poor quality of work and the threat of violence. In 2019, 3.8% of the population in Georgia was multidimensionally poor, ranking 57th out of 120 countries in the world and first among EaP countries. The Gini Index measures income distribution within a society. In 2021, Georgia scored 36.4 on the Gini Index, ranking 76th out of 165 countries and having the highest inequality rate among EaP countries. In terms of life expectancy, in 2020 average life expectancy in Georgia was 74.2 years, ranking it 101st in the world and 3rd among EaP countries. Taking into account these indicators, Georgia, on an international level, is an upper-middle-income country with moderate rates of inequality and life expectancy. Due to its poor educational and healthcare systems, Georgia has been unable to mobilize its human capital to achieve a higher level of economic development.
Issue 12: Ukraine’s External Trade (January-June, 2017-2021)
04-Oct-2021
Total trade turnover in Ukraine amounted to 61.2 bln USD, marking an increase of 14.07 bln USD (29.9%) compared to the corresponding period of 2020;
Ukrainian exports increased by 7.01 bln USD (30.6%) compared to the corresponding period of 2020, while Ukrainian imports increased by 7.06 bln USD (29.2%);
Compared to the corresponding prepandemic period of 2019, Ukrainian exports increased by 5.5 bln USD (22.3%), while its imports increased by 3.01 bln USD (10.7%);
Ukraine’s trade deficit amounted to 1.3 bln USD, which represents a 0.02 bln USD (1.5%) decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2020;
Ukraine’s main trade partners were China, Poland, and Germany, with shares in total trade volume of 14.5%, 7.6% and 6.5%, respectively. Ukraine’s main export partners were China (14.3% of total exports), Poland (7.9%), and Turkey (6%). Meanwhile, its main import partners were China (14.6% of total imports), Germany (8.9%), and Russia (9.1%);
54.4% of Ukrainian exports were concentrated among its top ten partners, while imports were slightly less diversified with the top ten partners responsible for 63.7% of total imports;
Compared with the corresponding period of 2020, a 24.3% decrease in trade turnover with Russia was observed, while significant 33% and 40.6% increases were recorded in the cases of China and the EU.
Poultry Sector in Georgia
30-Sep-2021
The poultry sector in Georgia enjoyed stable growth between 2007 and 2020 (i.e. since the global outbreak of bird flu had abated in 2006). The sector is the only agricultural sector to contribute VAT payments to the Georgian economy. The sector, as well as most other sectors of the economy, has been affected by the country’s move toward approximation with European standards, especially in recent years. This issue is largely based on the "Poultry Cluster Diagnostic Study in Kvemo Kartli Region," published by PMC Research Center, for United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) under the “EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia (EU IPSC).” Find the full publication here: https://bit.ly/3kSILkL
Monthly Tourism Update (August, 2021)
20-Sep-2021
The number of international travelers increased by 538.3% in August 2021, compared to the same period of 2020, and declined by 77.3% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors increased by 510.5% (2021/2020) and declined by 75.5% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists increased by 615.2% (2021/2020) and declined by 67.2% (2021/2019);
Tourists coming to Georgia have customarily originated from a small concentrated selection of countries. Specifically, in 2019, 71.4% of all international visitors to Georgia came from its four neighboring countries. However, in August 2021, the corresponding proportion amounted to just 40.8%, mostly due to an increase in the number of visits from Ukraine, Saudi Arabia, Belarus, and Kazakhstan;
Targeting tourism markets with potential for expansion could be a fruitful approach in Georgia’s economic recovery as the pandemic eventually subsides. In particular, China, with an average growth rate in its number of visitors to Georgia of 54% over 2015-2019, and Kazakhstan, with a corresponding indicator at 36%, stand out as promising markets.
Hotel Price Index (August, 2021)
20-Sep-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 151 GEL per night in August 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 268 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 95 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in August 2021 was 514 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 807 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 604 GEL, Adjara - 570 GEL and Kakheti – 546 GEL.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q3, 2021)
16-Sep-2021
According to this survey of Georgian economists, the economic climate in the country in the third quarter of 2021 has improved compared to the second quarter of the same year. Georgian economists’ assessments of the current situation have generally improved, compared to the previous quarter and the corresponding quarter of 2020, but nevertheless remain negative. The economists’ predictions for Georgia’s economic situation for the next six months were also negative. Indeed, their expectations for this period deteriorated slightly, compared to their predictions in the second quarter of 2021 and the forecasts they made in the third quarter of last year.
Issue 11: Inflation Trends in Ukraine
13-Sep-2021
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to represent a major economic shock, causing considerable inflation volatility. The pandemic has been responsible for a substantial decline in inflation rates over the course of 2020 globally. However, this trend underwent a significant reversal in the first half of 2021. In this issue, we overview inflation trends in Ukraine prior to and during the COVID-19 crisis.
The Third Analytical Report: Sector and Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
10-Sep-2021
This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) across selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making through the provision of quality information and analytics. The specific sectors are tourism, creative industries, light manufacturing, shared intellectual services, waste management and recycling, along with cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from the first quarter of 2021.Please find the full publication in English and the executive summary of the report in Georgian.
The Second Analytical Report: Sector and Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
09-Sep-2021
This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) in the selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making by providing quality information and analytics. These specific sectors are tourism, creative industries, light manufacturing, shared intellectual services, waste management, and recycling, along with cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from 2016 to December 31, 2020.Please find the full publication in English and the executive summary of the report in Georgian.
The First Analytical Report: Sector and Value Chain Analytics in Georgia
08-Sep-2021
This quarterly report provides an analysis of economic trends, as well as denoting the challenges and opportunities (in local, regional, and global contexts) in the selected value chains within six sectors to improve evidence-based decision-making by providing quality information and analytics. These specific sectors are tourism, creative industries, light manufacturing, shared intellectual services, waste management and recycling, along with cross-cutting sectors. The analysis tracks trends from 2014 to the third quarter of 2020. The following is a synopsis of the findings for this quarter: Tourism (accommodation, catering, adventure tourism, gastronomic tourism, and cultural tourism); Creative industries (media content production and post-production, and artisan); Light manufacturing (furniture, packaging, construction materials, personal and protective equipment (PPE), and wooden toys); and Solid waste management and recycling.
Please find the full publication in English and the executive summary of the report in Georgian.
Issue 129: Georgia’s External Trade (January-June, 2017-2021)
01-Sep-2021
In the first half of 2021, external trade turnover in Georgia amounted to 6.2 bln USD, which is 20.7% more than corresponding period of 2020 and 0.5% more than the prepandemic period of January-June 2019.
Georgian exports amounted to 1.9 bln in January-June 2021, which is 25.2% more than in January-June of 2020 and 5.3% more than in January-June of 2019. Moreover, Georgian imports recorded 4.3 bln USD, which is 18.9% more than in the first half of 2020 and 1.5% less than in the corresponding period of 2019.
In the first half of 2021 Georgian trade deficit increased by 0.3 bln USD (14.5%), compared to the first half of 2020, and decreased by 0.16 bln USD (6.1%), compared to the corresponding period of 2019 and amounted to 2.44 bln USD.
In the period of January-June 2021, compared to January-June of 2020, trade turnover increased with the EU (9.9%), Russia (24.8%) and China (22.7%). However, compared to the corresponding period of 2019, trade turnover increased with Russia (12.3%) and China (27.9%), but decreased with the EU (-14%).
Georgia’s main total trade partners in the first half of 2021 were Turkey (15.2%), Russia (11.8%) and China (10.5%). Main export partners were China (15.4%), Russia (14%) and Azerbaijan (8.4%). Moreover, main import partners were Turkey (18%), Russia (10.8%) and China (8.4%).
Hotel Price Index (July, 2021)
17-Aug-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room1 in a 3-star hotel was 149 GEL per night in July 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 265 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 85 GEL per night.
The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in July 2021 was 524 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 809 GEL, followed by Adjara - 550 GEL, Kakheti - 543 GEL and Tbilisi – 539 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (July, 2021)
17-Aug-2021
After a challenging 2020 and early 2021 for the tourism sector, various positive developments, such as the alleviation of restrictions, were seen in the tourism sector in Georgia in the second quarter of 2021. As of July 2021, there are no restrictions of movement in place within Georgia, and both land and air borders are open for eligible visitors. Below is a timeline of the relaxing of various COVID-19 measures in the second quarter of 2021:
Since May 17, the curfew was moved from 21:00 to 23:00.
Since May 22, restaurants have been allowed to operate on weekends in open spaces.
Since June 1, restaurants have been allowed to operate on weekends in both open and closed spaces.
Since June 1, land borders have been reopened.
On June 14, tourism information centers around the country re-opened.
On June 16, mandatory PCR testing for visitors aged less than 10 was eliminated.
Since July 1, the curfew (23:00 – 04:00) was removed.
Shared Intellectual Services
16-Aug-2021
This policy brief on the shared intellectual services sector in Georgia has been developed by Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) under the USAID Economic Security Program. Its aims are to identify the key economic policy challenges in Georgia existing in this sector, and to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors including a wide spectrum of civil society and political representatives.
First, the policy brief provides an overview of the shared intellectual services (SIS) sector in the Georgian economy.
Second, it analyzes policy challenges in this sector in Georgia from the perspectives of different stakeholders, including representatives of the private sector, government, donor organizations, and business associations/clusters. Moreover, it overviews the Georgian government’s responses to the existing challenges in the sector.
Third, it analyzes the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the SIS sector in Georgia from the perspectives of different stakeholders (including government, the private sector, business associations/clusters, and donor organizations).
The document concludes by presenting recommendations to address existing challenges in the SIS sector in Georgia.
Light Manufacturing
16-Aug-2021
This policy document has been prepared within the scope of the USAID Economic Security Program. The goal of the program is to improve the competitiveness of four priority sectors (light manufacturing, tourism, creative industries, and shared intellectual services) by increasing investment, revenues, and the number of high-value jobs therein.
This study focuses on the light manufacturing industry, and specifically on the furniture and packaging material sub-sectors. It aims to examine the existing challenges in the relevant value chains and to determine ways to overcome the obstacles identified through dialogue with the representatives of the public and private sectors.
Issue 10: Exchange Rates in Ukraine (2016-2021)
12-Aug-2021
The Ukrainian Hryvnia’s exchange rates relative to foreign currencies experienced some noteworthy tendencies in 2016-2021. This period of course includes the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, which has had a significant impact on exchange rate fluctuations globally. In this bulletin, we review the exchange rate fluctuations in Ukraine in 2016-2021, as well as some of the key factors affecting it.
Post-Pandemic Recovery in the Black Sea Region
09-Aug-2021
A year and a half since the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the world has entered a new phase in which the race to vaccinate is shaping the path for post-pandemic recovery and economic growth. In this bulletin, we review the dynamics of the virus spread and the extent of the economic recovery being achieved by the countries of the Black Sea region.
Issue 128: Unemployment in Georgia (2017-2020)
27-Jul-2021
In 2021, unemployment remains an unresolved obstacle for the Georgian economy and society’s most pressing problem. Over the years, diverse public opinion polls have indicated that unemployment is the most important issue at national level. For instance, in 2020, according to a public attitudes poll conducted by the National Democratic Institute, for 46% of respondents, the main challenge they were facing was unemployment.This issue focuses on changes in unemployment trends in Georgia in the period of 2017-2020 and provides an analysis of the effects of the COVID-19 crisis on unemployment in the country.
Wine Production Sector in Georgia
15-Jul-2021
The wine industry in Georgia has experienced strong growth over the past decade in all key indicators such as exports, turnover, and employment and salaries (measured both in GEL and in USD). The financials of the sector have also looked impressive during this time.
Monthly Tourism Update (June, 2021)
12-Jul-2021
The number of international travelers increased by 294.2% in June 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, and declined by 82.1% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors increased by 286.8% (2021/2020) and declined by 79.8% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists increased by 361.6% (2021/2020) and declined by 71.7% (2021/2019);
In June 2021, the number of visitors from Israel, Ukraine and Kazakhstan recovered to approximately 75% of their June 2019 levels;
During the period of 2018-2021, average hotel prices in Georgia peaked in 2018, gradually falling in 2019 before plummeting in 2020;
Prices of 5-star hotels experienced the highest volatility, while the prices of guesthouses were most stable;
In June 2021, the Hotel Price Index increased by 1.5% compared to the corresponding month of 2019, mainly driven by positive expectations about tourism’s recovery, as well as the low base effect due to the shock (Russian flight ban) in June 2019.
Hotel Price Index (June, 2021)
12-Jul-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 136 GEL per night in June 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 243 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 81 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in June 2021 was 496 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 739 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 644 GEL, Kakheti - 470 GEL and Adjara – 457 GEL.
Issue 9: Foreign Direct Investments in Ukraine 2016-2020
25-Jun-2021
The COVID-19 pandemic and the subsequent Great Lockdown have affected investment flows all over the globe, especially in emerging markets. According to UNCTAD, global Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows dropped by 35% in 2020, to $1 trillion, from $1.5 trillion in 2019. This is almost 20% below the 2009 levels after the global financial crisis. Moreover, the number of newly announced greenfield projects in developing countries declined by 42% in 2020 compared to 2019. To assess the impact of the crisis on the FDI flows in Ukraine, it is crucial to have a snapshot of the pre-crisis situation along with developments in 2020.
Issue 127: Remittance Inflows in Georgia during Covid-19 Crisis
22-Jun-2021
This bulletin focuses on remittance inflows into Georgia in 2020 and its development in 2021.
The social and economic stability of Georgia strongly relies on the money sent from emigrants to their families. Based on World Bank Data, in 2019, in terms of dependence on remittance inflows, Georgia ranked 21st in the world, with remittance inflows to GDP ratio. Moreover, the study conducted by the State Commission on Migration Issues revealed that in 2016 money sent by every second emigrant to their families accumulated half or 3/4 of family budget, and for the 15% of families remittance was the only source of income in Georgia.
The COVID-19 pandemic and imposed restrictions hindered economic activity in nearly every country, resulting in a negative effect on wages and employment for migrant workers and consequently, drying up of remittance inflows. In 2020 due to the emerged crises and uncertain situation, the World Bank projected shrinking remittance flows for low and middle-income countries by 7.2%3, while the IMF forecasted a 15%4 decline for Georgia. However, despite the crisis and pessimistic predictions in Georgia, the volume of remittance inflows in 2020 compared to 2019 has increased by 8.8% and reached the highest figure in the past decade - 1.9 BLN USD, amounting to 11.9%, expressed as a percentage to GDP.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q2, 2021)
03-Jun-2021
According to this survey of Georgian economists, the economic climate in the country in the second quarter of 2021 is better than the first quarter of the same year. Georgian economists’ assessment of the current situation has improved, compared to the previous quarter and corresponding quarter of 2020, but nevertheless remained negative. The economists’ predictions for Georgia’s economic situation for the next six months were also negative. Their expectations for this period improved though, compared to their predictions in the first quarter of 2021, and were considerably more optimistic than the forecasts they made at the same time last year.
Monthly Tourism Update (May, 2021)
31-May-2021
The number of international travelers increased by 141.6% in April 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, and declined by 86.8% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors increased by 140.4% (2021/2020) and declined by 85.0% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists increased by 182.2% (2021/2020) and declined by 78.2% (2021/2019);
The number of visitors to Georgia from Israel in April 2021 recovered to 70% of its April 2019 level, with its share in total visitors amounting to 12.2%;
Georgia’s four neighboring countries accounted for 71% of total visitors in 2019. None of these countries had vaccinated more than 20% of their population as of May 23, 2021;
Some countries that stand out for their high vaccination rates among Georgia's key source markets include Israel (63% of the population), United Arab Emirates (61%), the United Kingdom (56%), Hungary (52%), the United States (49%), and Finland (41%). Most EU countries have a rate of around 30-40%;
In April 2021, the Hotel Price Index decreased by 2.3% compared to the corresponding month of 2019, mainly driven by a price decline of 27.4% in Adjara.
Hotel Price Index (May, 2021)
31-May-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 132 GEL per night in May 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 246 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 82 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in May 2021 was 402 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 600 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 509 GEL, Kakheti - 432 GEL and Adjara – 391 GEL.
Professional Development of Civil Servants in Georgia – Supporting the Shift to Online Learning
24-May-2021
The research objectives are to examine the challenges that exist in the civil servants’ professional development system, in general, explore barriers specifically associated with the shift to online learning, assess the readiness of civil servants for online training, and develop recommendations to increase the effectiveness of remote teaching.The research methodology is based on a mixed-method design and combines qualitative and quantitative approaches: analysis of the existing documents, interviews with key informants, focus group discussions, and a computer-assisted telephone survey that is representative for professional civil servants working in the councils and town halls across the country. In order to provide in-depth analysis of the issue, the research draws on the perspectives of multiple stakeholders, including civil servants as well as representatives of the Civil Service Bureau, international organizations, and training centers.
Issue 8: Ukraine in International Rankings
18-May-2021
International rankings and indicators help us to understand and assess how countries are performing in different areas. In this bulletin, Ukraine’s positions in international rankings and the dynamics therein will be reviewed based on recent data. The positions will also be compared with other Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Georgia, and Belarus).
Monthly Tourism Update (April, 2021)
06-May-2021
The number of international travelers increased by 141.6% in April 2021 compared to the same period of 2020, and declined by 86.8% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors increased by 140.4% (2021/2020) and declined by 85.0% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists increased by 182.2% (2021/2020) and declined by 78.2% (2021/2019);
Visitors from the United States and Israel stand out as high-spenders and long-stayers in Georgia, while visitors from Turkey, the Gulf States, Iran, and Armenia have been categorized as high-spenders but short-stayers. Visitors from Russia and Azerbaijan fall into the low-spend, short-stay category;
Israel and the Gulf States accounted for the highest estimated revenue loss in 2020 due to the COVID-19, apart from immediate neighbors. Now, Israel and the United Arab Emirates have one of the highest percentage of vaccinated population, so visitors from the two countries could be worth targeting;
For 2021, it is recommended to channel marketing campaigns toward high-spenders and short-stayers, along with high-spenders and long-stayers;
Due to the abnormal impact of the pandemic on 2020 prices, we use 2019 as the comparison year for the Hotel Price Index for the rest of 2021.
Hotel Price Index (April, 2021)
06-May-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 133 GEL per night in April 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 225 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 77 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in April 2021 was 380 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 606 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 512 GEL, Kakheti - 425 GEL and Adjara – 329 GEL.
Issue 7: Remittance Inflows into Ukraine
29-Apr-2021
In this bulletin, a snapshot of remittance inflows into Ukraine pre-COVID is discussed, followed by its developments in 2020.
According to the World Bank, global remittances will decline by 14% by the end of 20212, compared to the pre-pandemic level of 2019;
In 2020, remittance inflows into Ukraine declined just by 0.3%, compared to 2019;
Remittance inflows in Ukraine have been growing at an annual average of 8.2% over the past decade;
The contribution of remittances to GDP in Ukraine amounted to 7.7% in 2020;
The top senders of remittances to Ukraine in 2020 were Poland (26%), the United States (10%), and the United Kingdom (9%). In 2016-2019, the top senders were Poland (30%), Russia (12%), and the United States (8%);
Remittances from Russia declined the most in 2020 (-20%), compared to 2019, while the United Kingdom recorded the strongest growth (69%) over the same period.
Microfinance Sector in Georgia (2017-2020)
23-Apr-2021
PMC Research has launched a new periodic publication entitled Sector Snapshots. Each issue focuses on a specific sector of the Georgian economy, observing developments with respect to key indicators of the given sector as a whole, the sector’s dynamics, its role in the overall economy, and, finally, financial indicators of companies within that sector.
The publication will produce valuable insights for businesses engaged in the covered sectors, as it lays out the trajectory of development for each sector and its possible financial bottlenecks, thereby contributing to more informed and efficient decision-making.
In the first issue of our new publication, we focus on Georgia’s microfinance sector.
In 2017-2019 new regulations on microfinance institutions (MFIs) entered into force, which significantly altered the landscape of the industry;
Between Q1 2017 and Q4 2020, the number of MFIs and employees in the sector fell, with the former dropping to 40 and the latter to 4145 by Q4 2020 (52% and 16% decrease, respectively)
In Q4 2020, MFIs in Georgia held 1.48 bln GEL of assets and 0.98 bln GEL of liabilities. In this period, the consolidated assets and liabilities of MFIs increased, compared to Q4 2019 with a growth of 7% and 9%, respectively. Compared to Q1 of 2017, figures increased by 6% and decreased by 1%, respectively;
In 2020, gross income (revenue) of MFIs decreased, compared to 2019, and dropped by 10% to 332.6 mln GEL, while net income increased to 44.8 mln GEL. Moreover, the net income margin increased by 14 percentage points and reached 14%;
By the end of 2020, portfolio of loans issued by MFIs amounted to 1.18 bln GEL, while number of loans in portfolio amounted to 0.66 mln loans, which represented 8% increase and 16% decrease, respectively, compared to the figures by the end of 2018.
Monthly Tourism Update (March, 2021)
15-Apr-2021
The number of international travelers declined by 75.3% in March compared to the same period of 2020, and by 90.7% compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile, the number of international visitors fell by 73.4% (2021/2020) and by 89.0% (2021/2019), and the number of international tourists fell by 64.4% (2021/2020) and by 84.4% (2021/2019);
Saudi Arabia, the United States, Qatar, United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the United Kingdom rank as the top five countries of origin when it comes to highest average expenditure per visit;
Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, UAE, and Armenia rank as the top five countries of origin when it comes to average expenditure per day;
Targeting visitors from Turkey, via both air and land routes, could be an effective marketing strategy, at least in the short term;
Due to the abnormal impact of the pandemic on 2020 prices, we use 2019 as the comparison year for the Hotel Price Index for the rest of 2021.
Hotel Price Index (March, 2021)
15-Apr-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 124 GEL per night in March 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 219 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 80 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in March 2021 was 332 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 587 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 436 GEL, Adjara - 295 GEL and Kakheti – 293 GEL.
Fruit and Vegetable Processing Cluster, Hazelnut Processing Diagnostic Study in Guria Region
14-Apr-2021
PMC Research conducted a diagnostic study of fruit and vegetable processing cluster and hazelnut processing in Guria region of Georgia, and developed a cluster map, and elaborated short-term objectives as well as a long-term vision for the development of this cluster.
The study is part of the “EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia (EU IPSC)” program, which is a joint initiative of the European Union and the following four UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Poultry Cluster Diagnostic Study in Kvemo Kartli Region
14-Apr-2021
PMC Research conducted a poultry cluster diagnostic study in Kvemo Kartli region of Georgia, and developed a cluster map, and elaborated short-term objectives as well as a long-term vision for the development of this cluster.
The study is part of the “EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia (EU IPSC)” program, which is a joint initiative of the European Union and the following four UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Marine Fishing Cluster Diagnostic Study in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
05-Apr-2021
PMC Research described both the history and the current reality for the marine fishing cluster in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia, analyzed business operations within it, developed a cluster map, and elaborated short-term objectives as well as a long-term vision for the development of this cluster.
The study is part of the “EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia (EU IPSC)” program, which is a joint initiative of the European Union and the following four UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Hazelnut Processing Cluster Diagnostic Study in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti Region
02-Apr-2021
PMC Research described both the history and the current reality for the hazelnut processing cluster in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region of Georgia, analyzed business operations within it, developed a cluster map, and elaborated short-term objectives as well as a long-term vision for the development of this cluster.
The study is part of the “EU Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia (EU IPSC)” program, which is a joint initiative of the European Union and the following four UN agencies: the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP); the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO); the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).
Cybercrime in Georgia: Current Challenges and Possible Developments
30-Mar-2021
The goal of this research is twofold. Primarily, it provides an assessment of the cybercrime situation in Georgia and projection of possible developments, as well as envisages policy recommendations for responsible public authorities. The secondary, but not less important goal is to facilitate awareness-raising through developing analytical information regarding problems and ways of their solutions. Georgian citizens are end victims who suffer from any national security threats including cybersecurity incidents and cybercrimes. Informing the public and raising awareness gain utmost importance, especially in conditions of hybrid threats. Social resilience could not be ensured without a wider engagement of informed and socially active citizenry.
Key Findings
Cybercrime is still an emerging phenomenon in Georgia, its damaging potential is not fully exposed and the threat is not perceived properly either by the government or the society;
Highly likely cybercrime remains underreported in Georgia as in many other countries of our region;
The MIA is focused on pure cybercrimes and does not calculate cyber-enabled crimes under cybercrime statistics that leaves room for ambiguity;
From the perspective of criminal justice, policy cybercrime still does not expose serious challenge to society as its share in general criminal statistics is not significant;
In the context of national security, cybercrime is more dangerous than other crimes as it represents an instrument of transformation of external threats into serious problems of internal security;
Georgian Police handle cybercrime generally in a reactive manner, with more focus on response - investigation and pursuit, lacking a comprehensive preventive approach;
LEA has certain problems in investigation and digital forensic, especially, in the regions;
Lack of coordinated government policy, mature engagement of the private sector and low public awareness in the light of digitalization of social life, increasing internet and ICT access are main factors affecting cybercrime statistics negatively;
Transnational criminal activities expose little danger to Georgia cybersecurity nowadays, but it`s predictable that GOCGs being an important part of transnational organized criminality, will increase their illegal activities in the digital space;
Lack of sustainable financial support to develop key cybersecurity services and programs is observed;
As main determinants affecting of raising cybercrime in Georgia are mostly generated through complex internal socio-economic and technological developments and external geopolitical processes and the GOG has limited capacity to influence significantly on most of those factors in a short-term perspective, it can be implied that in the nearest 5 years’ period, the trend of raising cybercrime rates in Georgia will be maintained. Highly likely cybercrime would be increased approximately by 25-30% per year in comparison to 2020 rates and gradually, it will easily overcome 5% share of total criminal cases registered by the police in 2022.
Recommendations
Recommendation #1. More preventive, proactive and protective policy:
Set up a comprehensive strategic agenda for cybercrime preventive measures. Georgia needs to develop not only reactive but also proactive measures for combating cybercrime;
Change the approach of calculating cybercrime statistics to consider numbers of cyber-enabled crimes in total number of cybercrimes;
Develop joint interagency task force from key government stakeholder institutions, equipped with strategic, operational and tactical tools, to unify efforts and undertake comprehensive and adequate measures for deterring external threats or mitigating the risks;
Elaborate long-term strategy and action plan for combatting cybercrime, which will include capacity building, large-scale public awareness projects jointly organized by relevant government agencies (participation of the institutions responsible for implementing educational and youth policy is highly recommended);
Draft and adopt legislative framework empowering the police for utilization ethical hacking and other proactive measures in cyberspace;
Increase funding of cybersecurity dimension.
Recommendation #2. Develop workforce and institutional capacity:
Increase human and technological capacity of cybercrime investigators, especially at the regional level. Regular training programs with no gaps, as new sophisticated attacks require qualified people to deal with;
Develop national training infrastructure for LEAs and security sector agencies to fill the gaps of human resources and facilitate professionalization of their personnel in cybersecurity, cybercrime investigation techniques and digital evidence;
Increase efforts for participation in international exercises and trainings to increase international LEA cooperation with a special focus on combatting cybercrimes;
Work more actively with LEAs of partner countries, international and regional law enforcement organizations in joint working groups and other platforms to detect activities of GOCGs in cyber sphere and be informed about possible threats;
Create specialized cybercrime police units in every region of Georgia, equip them with special crime detection software and technical solutions that will increase early warning opportunities and increase other preventive technics;
Equip and train enough police personnel properly for conducting tailored proactive policing measures countrywide.
Recommendation #3. Develop cyber culture:
Take active measures for public education and awareness, the empowerment of Georgian information society; reduce the success rate of many forms of cybercrime by educating individuals and organizations in recognizing criminal activity before they fall victim to it;
Through various institutional frameworks achieve engagement of multiply government agencies having a large set of beneficiaries and active partnership with the private sector in the awareness-raising process to increase the outreach;
Implement tailored educational campaigns for professional civil servants in cybersecurity, cyber hygiene and misinformation campaigns;
Implement tailored and large-scale awareness-raising campaigns for the most vulnerable social groups;
Share information about threats, best practices, specialized capabilities among stakeholders to build trust and demonstrate value for them;
Raise awareness among decision-makers and senior management of LEAs to determine strategic priorities regarding cybercrime and electronic evidence.
Recommendation #4. Co-share resources between CERT and MIA:
Temporary secondment - assignment, transfer of LEA professional in CERT in order to get a hand-on experience of CERT incident collection and reporting, classification approaches, together define procedural and organizational formalities. On the contrary, CERT representative can be shifted to cybercrime office in order to get more insight into procedural powers, investigation techniques and assist the process with technical cyber know-how. This advice is vastly promoted by ENISA, Council of Europe as a cooperative tool between cybercrime and cybersecurity authorities;
Adopt unified operational standards, develop the capacity of joint work; the experience of joint risk assessment teams of the MIA and the LEPL Revenue Service could be a useful example;
Key steps required for information exchange between CERT and the police: Define a common taxonomy related to incidents and events in cybersecurity; Define an exchange standard to enable the sharing of information based on the taxonomy
Create statistics based on the information exchanged.
Recommendation #5: Connect, communicate and collaborate:
Strengthen formal and informal cooperation frameworks to combat cybercrime in order to build an effective and sound governance system;
Elaborate and adopt legislative requirements for the exchange of information between public and private sectors;
Foster cooperation between the MIA and ISPs;
Develop a secure information sharing platform for the exchange of information on cyber-threats and incidents between cyber authorities;
Undertake measures (including legislative amendments) to increase informed and responsible engagement of the private sector in strengthening the country`s cyber resilience.
Recommendation #6: Develop Cybercrime Reporting Mechanism:
Establish a cybercrime reporting centre, hotline, providing a central point of contact for citizens and businesses;
Develop coordinated mechanisms within the public and the private sector allowing citizens to report cybercrime cases, including online fraud, cyberstalking, child abuse online, identify theft, privacy and security breaches, etc.;
Define common reporting methodology with written guidelines to broad stakeholder groups, including foreign counterparts;
Launch awareness programs and communication campaigns to promote the regular use of reporting mechanisms by a wider community;
Develop digital tools for cybercrime reporting.
Issue 6: Supporting Businesses During the Pandemic: National and Municipal Responses
29-Mar-2021
To address the challenges posed by the pandemic, various government measures have been taken at both national and local levels. In order to withstand the economic recession, almost all countries, including Ukraine, have introduced significant fiscal stimulus packages. Exclusively for the 2020 fiscal year, the Government of Ukraine created a stand-alone budgetary program under the Ministry of Finance to fight the pandemic, with an overall budget of UAH 80.9 billion (or 2% of Ukraine’s 2019 GDP).
Hotel Price Index (February, 2021)
16-Mar-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 126 GEL per night in February 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 180 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 75 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in January 2021 was 345 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 464 GEL, followed by Samtskhe-Javakheti - 433 GEL, Tbilisi - 428 GEL and Kakheti – 329 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (February, 2021)
16-Mar-2021
The number of international travelers declined by 91% in February compared to the same period of both, 2020 and 2019, while the number of international visitors fell by 90% and the number of international tourists fell by 86%;
From March 2020 to February 19, 2021, 220 different hotels, and 11 744 hotel rooms, were utilized under the quarantine zones program. A total of 148 904 people stayed in these quarantine hotels over the covered period, and 3 644 people maintained their jobs in these hotels due to the program;
From March 2020 up to and including January 2021, a total of GEL 66.6 mln was spent under the program, averaging GEL 6.1 mln per month. On average, 94 hotels and 6340 hotel rooms were utilized per month, and 32 GEL was spent per hotel room per day.
Georgia - Fit for the Age of Artificial Intelligence?
16-Mar-2021
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly becoming a part of our everyday lives. The use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) was observed in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict; AI model was developed to diagnose COVID-19. The leader of the Georgian Dream criticized opponents for using deepfake programs to misinform the electorate during the 2020 parliamentary election campaign. AI offers tremendous benefits for our societies, in terms of public governance, business development and healthcare, but it also raises important economic, legal and ethical questions.
Issue 126: GDP and Employment in Georgia: Forecasts for 2021
04-Mar-2021
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic heavily disrupted the world, causing both a global health emergency and a global economic crisis. While almost every country and every sector have been affected, economies reliant on the service sector, and especially the tourism industry, such as Georgia, have suffered notably. Indeed, measures taken to contain the spread of the virus have had an especially negative impact on the economy. Preliminary estimates suggest a decline in Georgia’s real GDP in 2020 of 6.1%, the sharpest drop since 1994.In this issue, we provide forecasts for the performance of the Georgian economy for 2021, namely regarding its real GDP growth rate, sector-specific growth rates, and employment.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q1, 2021)
23-Feb-2021
According to a survey of Georgian economists, the economic climate in the country for the first quarter of 2021 has been and will continue to be worse than the last quarter of 2020. Their assessment of the current situation was also significantly worse than the corresponding quarter of the previous year. The economists’ predictions for Georgia’s economic situation for the next six months were also negative. Specifically, their expectations for this period remain similarly bleak to those stated in the final quarter of 2020, and were considerably more pessimistic than the forecasts they made at the same time last year.
Monthly Tourism Update (January, 2021)
16-Feb-2021
The number of international travelers declined by 94.5% in January compared to the same period of 2020, while the number of international visitors fell by 93.6% and the number of international tourists fell by 91.9%;
In January 2021, the year over year Hotel Price Index decreased by 33.8% in Adjara and by 28.5% in Samtskhe-Javakheti;
The number of ski-lift users in Georgia grew significantly, by an annual average rate of 21%, from the 2014-2015 season up to and including the 2018-2019 season. However, compared to the 2018-19 season, the number of ski-lift users dropped by 20% during the 2019-2020 season, due to the looming COVID-19 pandemic which effectively brought the season to an early finish. Thereafter, the 2020-2021 season has been cancelled outright due to the ongoing epidemiological crisis;
Sales per skiing day demonstrated significant growth from the 2014-2015 winter season up to and including the 2018-2019 winter season, growing by 33% annually on average in this period. It even registered modest growth (4%) in the 2019-2020 season.
Hotel Price Index (January, 2021)
16-Feb-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 118 GEL per night in January 2021, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 188 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 72 GEL per night.
Issue 5: Labor Market in Ukraine
09-Feb-2021
In this issue, we overview trends in Ukraine’s labor market indicators through the past decade and compare the dynamics of unemployment rates of Eastern Partnership countries over the same period. In addition, we analyze the effects of COVID-19 on the key labor market indicators, as well as on average wages and number of vacancies posted in 2020.
Hotel Price Index (December, 2020)
29-Jan-2021
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 123 GEL per night in December 2020, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 197 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 70 GEL per night.
Monthly Tourism Update (December, 2020)
29-Jan-2021
Tourism across the world in 2020 was decimated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since March 2020, the industry has been all but sidelined by various lockdowns including severe restrictions to international travel. To counter these difficulties, businesses in tourism-related industries were provided different support measures throughout 2020, and many of these have been extended into 2021;
The number of international travelers declined by 92.4% in December compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of international visitors fell by 90.8% and the number of international tourists fell by 86.3%;
The price changes in Adjara and Guria are the most representative of tourism’s decline. In December 2020, the year over year Hotel Price Index decreased by 41% in Guria, by 39% in Adjara and by 31.3% in Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Issue 125: Georgia in International Rankings
25-Jan-2021
International rankings and indicators help us to understand and assess how countries are performing in different areas. In this bulletin, Georgia’s positions in international rankings and their dynamics are reviewed based on recent data, and these are also compared to other Eastern Partnership (EaP) countries (Armenia, Azerbaijan, Moldova, Ukraine, and Belarus).
COVID-19 in the Black Sea Region - Part II
20-Jan-2021
The spread of COVID-19 has resulted in a global pandemic, followed by an abrupt economic crisis due to the necessary measures taken to reduce infection and death rates. In this bulletin, we focus on the countries of the Black Sea region, specifically their preparedness for an economic crisis and their actual economic performance during the pandemic, before presenting forecasts for 2021.
Issue 4: Ukraine’s External Trade (Q1-Q3, 2016-2020)
24-Dec-2020
In Q1-Q3 of 2020, total trade turnover in Ukraine amounted to 72.8 bln USD, which is a 6.9 bln (9%) decrease, compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
In Q1-Q3 of 2020, Ukrainian exports decreased by 6% compared to the corresponding period of 2019, while Ukrainian imports dropped by 11%;
In Q1-Q3 of 2020, Ukraine’s trade deficit amounted to 2.98 bln USD, which is 2.6 bln USD (47%) decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
In Q1-Q3 of 2020, the main export partners were China, Poland and Russia, with shares in total export volume of 13.8%, 6.7% and 5.8% respectively. The main import partners were China (15.3% of total imports), Germany (10.2%) and Russia (8.8%).
Monthly Tourism Update (November, 2020)
21-Dec-2020
The number of international travelers declined by 93.1% in November compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of international visitors fell by 91.6% and the number of international tourists fell by 88.3%;
The price changes in Adjara and Guria are the most representative of tourism’s decline. In November 2020, the year over year Hotel Price Index decreased by 45.8% in Guria and by 28.5% in Adjara. Hotel prices in other regions do not provide an accurate guidance of the situation in accommodation market due to the COVID-19 pandemic;
The number of visits by domestic visitors in the third quarter of 2020 (Q3 of 2020) has declined by 5.6%, compared to the same period of 2019;
The number of visits with the purpose of visiting friends or relatives has declined the most in Q3 of 2020, compared to the corresponding figure in 2019, having declined by 19.8%. Whereas, the number of visits with the purpose of visiting another house (cottage, etc.) has increased by 45.4% in Q3 of 2020, compared to Q3 of 2019. Perhaps, the main reason for these changes in the structure of the visit purpose is existing fears of traveling caused by the ongoing pandemic.
Hotel Price Index (November, 2020)
21-Dec-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 113 GEL per night in November 2020, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 176 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 67 GEL per night.
Issue 3: COVID-19 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia: Case Studies of Ukraine, Georgia and Albania
18-Dec-2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the ensuing economic shock, has prompted governments all around the globe to act swiftly and decisively to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the crisis. Each country has responded in its way, and it is useful to look at these different responses to identify good practices. In this issue, we will be looking at the case studies of Ukraine, Georgia, and Albania, including an analysis of the fiscal measures these countries have taken and an overview of the economic forecasts for 2020 and 2021.
Monthly Tourism Update (October, 2020)
27-Nov-2020
The number of international visitors declined by 92.9% in October compared to the same period of 2019, and the number of international tourists fell by 90%. Georgia experienced a fall of at least 90% in the number of foreign arrivals every month since April 2020, compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
The price changes in Adjara and Guria are the most representative of tourism’s decline. In October 2020, the year over year Hotel Price Index decreased by 51% in Guria and by 27.2% in Adjara;
The number of international visits to Georgia grew significantly over the period of 2015 to 2019, and this growth was mostly attributable to an increase in the number of visits for holiday, leisure and recreation purposes. However, due to safety concerns arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of visits in this category has been declining significantly, and this trend is likely to continue for the foreseeable future;
The number of business or professional visits, despite contributing only a modest share of the total visits, also registered significant growth, as it grew by an average of 11% year-on-year from 2015 to 2019.
Hotel Price Index (October, 2020)
27-Nov-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 120 GEL per night in October 2020, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 211 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 67 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in October 2020 was 387 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 454 GEL, followed by Guria - 432 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 424 GEL and Kakheti – 395 GEL.
Issue 2: Economic Growth Forecasts in Ukraine: 2020 and 2021
25-Nov-2020
“The Great Lockdown”, referring to the period in which COVID-19 containment measures were put in place worldwide, has had a significant toll on the global economy. In the specific case of Ukraine, even though the country entered the crisis in better macroeconomic condition than in previous global crisis in 2008, its economy is still expected to be hit hard. In this issue, we provide an overview of the impacts of the ongoing pandemic on the Ukrainian economy that are already visible and try to supply an economic forecast for the country for the remainder of 2020 and for 2021, looking at the performance of each economic sector in the process.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q4, 2020)
18-Nov-2020
In the fourth quarter of 2020, Georgian economic climate did not change significantly, compared to the previous quarter. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation negatively. The assessment of present economic situation in this quarter slightly improved compared to the third quarter of 2020, but worsened compared to the fourth quarter of 2019. In the fourth quarter of 2020, Georgia’s economic situation for the next six months was also assessed negatively by Georgian economists. Furthermore, expectations for the next six months deteriorated slightly compared to both the third quarter of 2020 and the fourth quarter of 2020.
Creative Industries - Anti-Piracy in Georgia
30-Oct-2020
This paper concentrates on the production and post-production (of audiovisual content) value chains within the creative industries sector and aims to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors on the most critical policy/regulatory challenges. The paper is developed by PMCG under the USAID Economic Security Program.
Issue 124: Overview of COVID-19 in Eastern Europe and Central Asia Including Case Studies of Georgia, Moldova and Serbia
22-Oct-2020
The COVID-19 pandemic, and the ensuing economic shock, has prompted governments all around the globe to act swiftly and decisively to mitigate the health and economic impacts of the crisis. Each country has responded in its own way, and it is useful to look at these different responses to identify good practices. In this issue, we look broadly at countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and present three case studies of Georgia, Moldova, and Serbia respectively, including an analysis of the fiscal measures these countries have taken and an overview of the impacts of the pandemic.
Monthly Tourism Update (September, 2020)
21-Oct-2020
The number of international travelers declined by 94.2% in September compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of inter- national visitors fell by 93.6% and the number of international tourists fell by 92.2%. Georgia experienced a fall of more than 90% in the number of foreign arrivals every month since April, compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
In the first three quarters of 2020, revenues from international travel amounted to US$499 mln, which is 81% lower than for the same period of 2019;
The price changes in Adjara, Guria, and Samtskhe-Javakheti are the most representative of tourism’s decline. In September 2020, the year over year Hotel Price Index decreased by 39.2% in Guria, 33.4% in Adjara, and 24.3% in Samtskhe-Javakheti;
Looking at countries that have reopened tourism quickly with no restrictions, some have managed to recover a sizable portion of their arrivals, such as Albania, while others, like North Macedonia and Serbia, have not been so successful. Indeed, the decrease in the number of arrivals to the latter two countries has been comparable to that in Georgia, which has maintained significant travel restrictions.
Hotel Price Index (September, 2020)
21-Oct-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 124 GEL per night in September 2020, while the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 221 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 70 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in September 2020 was 335 GEL per night. In Samtskhe-Javakheti, the average price was 440 GEL, followed by Guria - 433 GEL, Tbilisi - 430 GEL and Kakheti – 345 GEL.
Issue 1: Ukrainian Economy - Overview, 2010-2019
09-Oct-2020
In the very first edition of PMC Research Center Ukraine’s Economic Outlook and Indicators, we present an overview and analysis of the dynamics of Ukraine’s main economic indicators over the last decade, such as GDP, inflation, exchange rates, foreign trade, FDI, and remittances.
Issue 123: Employment and Income Dynamics in Georgia
05-Oct-2020
In August 2020, the number of employees receiving salaries recovered almost fully and stood at only 1% less than the corresponding month of last year;
During the period of January-August 2020, the month of May saw the largest drop in the number of employees receiving salaries (a dip of 9% or 74 951), compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
The month of April experienced the biggest decline in the number of employees for four out of the five higher-income categories, with the highest decline (23%) recorded in the number of people earning more than GEL 4800 per month;
The total average monthly earnings of employees in Q2 of 2020 amounted to GEL 1150.1, which represents a 3% decrease compared to Q2 of 2019;
According to the data obtained from HR.ge and Jobs.ge, the drop in demand for labor started in March and reached its peak in April, when HR.ge and Jobs.ge experienced an 87% and 78% year over year (YoY) decline in new vacancies posted, respectively. The YoY growth rates started recovering towards the baseline in May, but then registered a significant decline in August.
Value Chain Analysis of Rural Tourism in Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region
05-Oct-2020
The study examines the rural tourism value chain in the Tianeti municipality and Lower Pshavi area (Dusheti municipality) of Mtskheta-Mtianeti region in order to introduce more economic opportunities in these deprived rural areas of Georgia. This study was conducted by PMC Research in collaboration with Biological Farming Association ELKANA, as part of an Austrian Development Cooperation project.
COVID-19 in the Black Sea Region - Part I
22-Sep-2020
The spread of novel coronavirus COVID-19 has resulted in global pandemics, which was followed by an abrupt economic crisis, as economies stood still in order to overcome the threat to people’s lives. In this bulletin, we overview the readiness to the healthcare and economic crisis, the evolution of the pandemic and characteristics of the lockdown for the six countries in the Black Sea Region.
Reviewing Migration and Development: The Role of Local Authorities in Central Asia
22-Sep-2020
The paper reviews developmental implications of labour migration from Central Asia, analyses policy gaps in development-oriented migration management and offers recommendations to facilitate impactful engagement of local authorities in migration governance.
This paper is written by Dr. Giorgi Khishtovani, Director at PMC Research, with contribution from Maya Komakhidze, researcher at PMC Research.
Issue 122: Banking Sector in Georgia (2017-2020)
17-Sep-2020
By the end of the second quarter of 2020, loans and deposits, expressed as a percentage of GDP, increased by 3.6 and 4.9 percentage points, respectively, compared to the beginning of the year;
By the end of the second quarter of 2020, bank assets, expressed as a percentage of GDP, increased to 98.4%;
By the end of July of 2020, the volume of loans was increased by 19%, compared to July of 2019;
The average interest rates on loans in January-July of 2020 denominated in national currencies were 0.9 percentage points higher than in January-July of 2019, while the average interest rates on loans denominated in foreign currencies were 0.8 percentage points less;
By the end of July of 2020, the volume of deposits in Georgia was increased by 21%, compared to July of 2019;
The average interest rates on deposits in January-July of 2020 denominated in national currencies were 1.2 percentage points higher than in January-July of 2019, while the average interest rates on deposits denominated in foreign currencies were 0.4 percentage points less;
In January-July of 2020 trade had the highest share of total loans with 29.5%;
In January-July of 2020, share of construction in total loans increased by 3.6 percentage points, while share of financial intermediation decreased by 8.2 percentage points, compared to the corresponding period of 2019;
According to the World Bank, Georgia’s ratio of non-performing loans to total loans decreased in 2019, compared to 2018, by 0.8 percentage points and dropped to 1.9%;
By the end of July of 2020 the rates of dollarization on loans and deposits were increased by 0.3 and 8 percentage points, compared to the corresponding period of 2019. The rates rose to 56.9% and 61.3%, respectively.
Monthly Tourism Update (August, 2020)
11-Sep-2020
The number of international travelers declined by 96.4% in August compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of international visitors fell by 96% and the number of international tourists fell by 95.4%;
In the first 8 months of 2020, revenues from travel amounted to $483 mln, which is 78% lower than the same period in 2019;
In Q2 2020, compared to Q2 2019, turnover of accommodations declined by 66%, and turnover of food facilities declined by 37%;
In August 2020, compared to August 2019, yearly Hotel Price Index decreased by 32.1% in Guria and 21.7% in Adjara;
In August 2020, compared to August 2019, the average price of guesthouses in Guria decreased by 58%, while the average price of 3-star hotels decreased by 35%;
In August 2020, compared to August 2019, the average price of 4-star hotels decreased by 38%, while the average price of 5-star hotels decreased by 25%. The average prices of guesthouses and 3-star hotels registered a more modest decline.
Hotel Price Index (August, 2020)
11-Sep-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 128 GEL per night in August 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 229 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 74 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in August 2020 was 367 GEL per night. In Guria, the average price was 776 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 426 GEL, Kakheti - 360 GEL and Adjara – 346 GEL.
Tourism Sector in Georgia
11-Sep-2020
The aim of this document is to identify the key economic policy/regulatory challenges in Georgia’s tourism value chain and to facilitate dialogue between private and public sectors including a wide spectrum of civil society and political representatives. The paper is developed by PMCG under the USAID Economic Security Program.
Monthly Tourism Update (July, 2020)
20-Aug-2020
The number of international travelers declined by 95.6% in July compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of international visitors fell by 94.8% and the number of international tourists fell by 93.5%;
In July 2020, compared to July 2019, the average prices of 5-star hotels decreased by 23%, which is the highest decline among the categories of the hotels;
In July 2020, the hotel prices have decreased in 8 regions (out of 11), compared to July 2019. The most hit regions are Guria (-38.1%), Adjara (-26.4%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (-23.5%);
Due to distorted price data, the declines in hotel prices illustrated by our analysis are underestimated. Moreover, the analysis in July can be deemed conclusive just for Guria, Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Hotel Price Index (July, 2020)
20-Aug-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 135 GEL per night in July 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 223 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 73 GEL per night.
Issue 121: Georgia’s External Trade (January-June, 2020)
11-Aug-2020
In the first half of 2020, external trade turnover in Georgia amounted to 5.054 bln USD, which is 18% less than corresponding period of 2019;
Georgian exports amounted to 1.5 bln in January-June 2020, which is 16% less than in January-June of 2019. Moreover, Georgian imports deteriorated even more by reaching 3.5 bln USD, which is 19% less than in the first half of 2019;
In the first half of 2020, Georgian trade deficit decreased by 0.55 bln USD (21%), compared to the first half of 2019;
There are more EU member states amongst Georgia’s top 10 export partners in the first half of 2020, compared to the first half of 2019;
In the period of January-June 2020, total trade turnover with the EU and Russia decreased by 22% and 16% respectively, but increased with China by 10% compared to the corresponding period of last year;
Georgia’s main trading partners in the first half of 2020 were Turkey, Russia and China. Their shares in Georgia’s total trade turnover were 14%, 12% and 10% respectively;
77.4% of Georgian exports are concentrated amongst the top ten partners. Moreover, top ten import partners occupy 69.4% of total imports.
Issue 120: Impact of COVID-19 on Remittance Inflows in Georgia
30-Jul-2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global remittance flows are expected to fall by 20% in 2020 (World Bank), while the decrease in Georgia is forecast at 15% (IMF);
In the first half of 2020, remittances have declined by just 4.8% compared to the same period of 2019;
Remittance inflows have been growing by an average of 8.5% over the past decade;
The contribution of remittance inflows in GDP has increased significantly over time and amounted 11% on average for the period of 2015-2019;
In 2020, remittance inflows saw a sharp drop (-42.3%) in April, however, the recovery in June was also strong (17.8%), compared to the same period of 2019;
Remittances from Russia declined the most in the first half of 2020 compared to the first half of 2019 (-27%), while Italy recorded the strongest growth (14%).
Georgian Economic Climate (Q3, 2020)
27-Jul-2020
In the third quarter of 2020, Georgian economic climate has slightly improved. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation negatively; Moreover, the assessment of present economic situation in this quarter has improved compared to the second quarter of 2020, but worsened compared to the third quarter of 2019. In the third quarter of 2020, Georgia’s economic situation for the next six months has also been assessed negatively by Georgian economists. Furthermore, expectations for the next six months have enhanced compared with second quarter of 2020, but deteriorated slightly compared with the third quarter of 2019.
Hotel Price Index (June, 2020)
09-Jul-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 135 GEL per night in June 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 223 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 73 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in June 2020 was 322 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 471 GEL, followed by Kakheti - 327 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 279 GEL and Adjara – 273 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (June, 2020)
09-Jul-2020
Using various assumptions, in Q3 of 2020, the maximum capacity of domestic tourism expenditures is to replace 33% of revenues from international tourism;
Using various assumptions, total revenues generated from tourism (both, domestic and international) in 2020 could amount to $1730 mln, which is 44.1% of the corresponding figure in 2019;
Domestic tourism in Georgia reopened on June 15th, while the reopening of borders is postponed to the near future;
The number of international travelers declined by 94.6% in May compared to the same period of 2019, while the number of inter- national visitors fell by 94.1% and the number of international tourists fell by 93.8%;
In June 2020, hotel prices do not provide an accurate guidance of the situation in accommodation market due to the fact that the market for accommodations is just starting to recover from the COVID-19-induced crisis.
Economic Analysis of Georgia’s Free Trade Agreements with EU and China
09-Jul-2020
It’s been five years after DCFTA was implemented and two years have passed since FTA with China. It is interesting to conduct ex-post analysis to find out how these FTAs affected Georgia’s economy. Goal of ex-post analysis will be to determine what qualitative and quantitative impacts are observed after Georgia signed DCFTA and FTA with China, on macro and sectoral levels. Also, the research paper will try to find if DCFTA and FTA with China resulted in welfare gains. To be more precise, the paper aims to determine whether the increase in trade was a result of trade creation or trade was diverted.Another aim is to analyze quantitative effects on imports and exports on different aggregation levels. For conclusion, research paper will analyze differences and similarities between DCFTA and FTA with China and based on these empirical findings, the research will identify possible threats and opportunities, which may come from future free trade agreements.
China-Georgia Relations amid Georgia’s Western Path: An Emerging but Limited Partnership?
09-Jul-2020
This policy brief attempts to understand China-Georgia relations. Georgia-China economic relations have received particular attention, yet there is a relative lack of research5 on how both Georgia and China see bilateral relations, and what possible factors could be limiting the depth of the partnership. Discussing this is important as Georgia is building closer ties with the EU in particular, and the Western institutions and states in general, while China’s suggested model of development stands opposite to Western liberal order.
Kutaisi Investment Catalogue
08-Jul-2020
The investment catalogue for Kutaisi to stimulate domestic and foreign direct investments in the city.
Imereti Export Catalogue
01-Jul-2020
The export catalog for Imereti Region, showcasing products of the region’s leading manufacturers.
Issue 119: Foreign Direct Investments in Georgia
24-Jun-2020
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, global FDI is expected to fall by 30-40% in 2020 (UNCTAD), while the decrease in Georgia is forecast at 19% (IMF);
Net FDI inflows have been decreasing in Georgia since 2017, based on both, yearly and Q1 data;
Net FDI inflows in Georgia experience volatility over time, due to large one-off investment projects;
Georgia has been leading among EaP countries in terms of the share of FDI in GDP in 2017 and 2018;
Net FDI inflows decreased by 41.7% in Q1 of 2020, compared to Q1 in 2019, mainly due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Monthly Tourism Update (May, 2020)
18-Jun-2020
The Government of Georgia introduced various support measures in order to alleviate the burden of the COVID-19 crisis on tourism industry in the period between March and May of 2020.
The Government of Georgia, namely GNTA, operated 84 hotels during the lockdown, which served 19 002 Georgian citizens as a quarantine zone. The total cost of providing quarantine zones from the budget amounted 32.5 mln GEL.
The Government of Georgia, developed mandatory recommendations for prevention of the spread of COVID-19 on June 5th.
In May 2020, hotel prices do not provide an accurate guidance of the situation in accommodation market due to the fact that the market for accommodations is non-existent due to COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotel Price Index (May, 2020)
18-Jun-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 126 GEL per night in May 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 214 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 71 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in May 2020 was 362 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 534 GELfollowed by Kakheti - 325 GEL and Imereti – 95 GEL.
Annual Report 2019
04-Jun-2020
The year of 2019 proved to be a busy one, with opportunities grasped and challenges overcome. We implemented various interesting projects, each of which made a telling impact. Meanwhile, as existing partnerships were strengthened, we established exciting new ones as well. Specifically, we made notable strides forward in Ukraine where we increased our representation and intensified our work. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, our excellent team has been complemented by the addition of new people with diverse and invaluable expertise.
Monthly Tourism Update (April, 2020)
03-Jun-2020
Number of international travelers decreased by 612 273 (-94.5%), compared to the same period previous year, while number of visitors decreased by 515 440 (-93.8%) and the number of tourists decreased by 321 643 (-92.3%);
Based on GNTA database, in an average registered accommodation facility in Georgia, there are 15 rooms and 37 beds. There are on average 23 rooms and 55 beds in Adjara (highest) and 6 rooms and 15 beds in Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti (lowest). There are on average 2.4 beds per one room in Georgia. This ratio equals 2.24 in Tbilisi (lowest) and 2.91 in Racha (highest);
Hotel prices do not provide an accurate guide of situation in accommodation market due to the fact that the market for accommodations is almost non-existant due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Hotel Price Index (April, 2020)
03-Jun-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 128 GEL per night in April 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 209 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 68 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in April 2020 was 343 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 566 GEL, followed by Kakheti - 320 GEL, Adjara – 258 GEL and Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti - 199 GEL.
Issue 118: Employment and Income in Georgia (2016-2019)
19-May-2020
Unemployment has remained one of the prioritised issues in Georgian economy since its independence. Moreover, Georgian economy was characterised with high unemployment rates even during periods of economic upturn prior to 2008 global financial crisis. COVID-19 is likely to impact job market and income of people employed, therefore, it is important to consider their pre-pandemic state. This bulletin overviews the unemployment and income figures of 2016-2019. The period of 2016-2019 is characterised with significant trends and issues such as: • Growth in average monthly incomes;• Slight decrease in unemployment rate;• Increased share of hired individuals in labor force;• Slight decrease of share of self-employed individuals in labor force.
Issue 117: Fiscal Effects of COVID-19 in Georgia
14-May-2020
PMC Research forecasts that budget deficit as a % of GDP will increase from 3.1% to 9.8% in the optimistic scenario, while in the less pessimistic and very pessimistic scenarios it will amount to 11.2% and 14.1%, respectively.
Recommendations:
Planned budget spending should be reprioritized to provide space for COVID-19-related expenditure;
Fiscal measures should be targeted to assist the hardest-hit households and firms. The government should ignore lobbying pressure from different sectors and businesses seeking benefit from fiscal policy package;
Effective public financial management is key to safeguarding against fiscal risks and enhancing the Government’s capacity to respond to the crisis.
Issue 116: The Impact of COVID-19 on the Georgian Economy
28-Apr-2020
If the optimistic scenario proves true, Georgia’s real economy is expected to shrink by 4.3%. The Georgian economy is expected to decrease by 8% in case of less pessimistic scenario, while in the event of the very pessimistic scenario, the expected fall is 12.9%.
In the optimistic scenario, Georgia’s real GDP growth is expected to drop by 0.43% every week, while the weekly loss is more pronounced for the less pessimistic (-0.47%) and very pessimistic (-0.5%) scenarios respectively.
The experiences of some European countries should be taken into account in the process of phased lifting of the restrictive measures.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q2, 2020)
23-Apr-2020
In the second quarter of 2020, Georgian economic climate has significantly worsened. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation negatively; Moreover, the assessment of present economic situation in this quarter has worsened drastically compared to the first quarter of 2020 and the second quarter of 2019.
In the second quarter of 2020, Georgia’s economic situation in the next six months has also been assessed negatively by Georgian economists. Furthermore, expectations in the next six months have deteriorated rapidly compared with both, first quarter of 2020 and second quarter of 2019.
Hotel Price Index (March, 2020)
22-Apr-2020
The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in March 2020 was 274 GEL per night. In Mtskheta-Mtianeti, the average price was 779 GEL (only one 5-star hotel), followed by Tbilisi - 396 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti – 339 GEL and Guria - 331 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (March, 2020)
22-Apr-2020
Number of international travelers in Georgia decreased by 385 846 (-62.3%), compared to the same period previous year, while number of visitors decreased by 297 119 (-79%) and the number of tourists decreased by 184 320 (-56.1%).
Net revenues from exporting tourism services in 2019 amounted 3267.7 mln USD, which accounts for 18.4% of Georgian GDP.
In March 2020, compared to February 2020, hotel price index increased by 5.1%, which can be explained by a market failure.
In March 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, hotel price index decreased by 12.9%. The average price of 5-star hotels decreased by 43% Year over Year (YoY), while price for 4-star hotel fell by 18.1%, and for 3-star hotels and guesthouses by 5.8% and 3.3% respectively.
Prioritized Community Problems in Mestia Municipality
24-Mar-2020
PMC Research elaborated a report in order to prioritize community problems in Mestia municipality through the analysis of central and local government competences.
The study was conducted as part of the project “Support to the Development of Livelihoods in Disadvantaged Rural Regions of Georgia – Mestia/Samegrelo - Upper Svaneti Region,” which is funded by the European Union with co-funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and is being implemented by Care Austria (CARE), in collaboration with PMC Research.
Hotel Price Index (February, 2020)
13-Mar-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 115 GEL per night in February 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 184 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 66 GEL per night.The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in February 2020 was 301 GEL per night. In Mtkheta-Mtianeti, the average price was 779 GEL, followed by Tbilisi - 444 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti – 339 GEL and Guria - 331 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (February, 2020)
13-Mar-2020
In February 2020 compared to February 2019, International visitor trips decreased by 0.6%. Among them, the number of tourists increased by 4%. On January 29th, Georgia suspended direct flights from China due to COVID-19, as a result, in February 2020, number of visitors from China decreased by 59.5% compared to February 2019. In February 2020, compared to January 2020, hotel price index decreased by 23.2%. In February 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, hotel price index decreased by 14.6%. In terms of regions, the prices decreased the most in Adjara (-28.8%), followed by Guria (-25.5%), Samtskhe-Javakheti (-16.9%) and Tbilisi (-11.6%).
Hotel Price Index ( January, 2020 )
06-Mar-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 136 GEL per night in January 2020. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 219 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 75 GEL per night.The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in January 2020 was 432 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 540 GEL, followed by Adjara - 389 GEL, Kakheti – 384 GEL and Samstkhe-Javakheti - 370 GEL.
In January 2020, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 4% compared to December 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 1.9%, while for guesthouses, the price index increased by 10.8%. In January 2020, compared to January 2019, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 8.6%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels increased by 4.6%, while the prices of guesthouses increased by 16.3%.
Monthly Tourism Update (January, 2020)
06-Mar-2020
Number of international visitors has increased by 18% in December 2019 and January 2020 combined, compared to December 2018 and January 2019 combined. Average annual growth rate of international visitor trips in December and January combined between years 2014-2019 was 8%. Average annual growth rate of international visitor trips in June, July and August combined between years 2014-2019 was 9%. Average price of hotels in Gudauri and Bakuriani in January 2020 was 207 and 206 GEL respectively, and 195 GEL in Mestia. In January 2020, compared to December 2019, hotel price index increased by 4%. In January 2020, compared to the same period of 2019, hotel price index increased by 8.6%.
Issue 115: Georgia’s External Trade, 2019
18-Feb-2020
The data analysis shows that in 2019, compared with the previous year, Georgia’s export has increased, while the country’s import decreased. In 2019, Georgia’s external trade balance amounted to negative $5.2 bln, which is a $0.49 bln decrease compared to the corresponding period of 2018.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q1, 2020)
11-Feb-2020
In the first quarter of 2020, Georgia’s economic situation in the next six months has been assessed negatively by Georgian economists. However, in this quarter, expectations in six months have improved compared with Q4 of 2019, while it deteriorated rapidly in relation to Q1 of 2019.
Local Development Strategy for Mestia Municipality 2020-2024
06-Feb-2020
Local Development Strategy for Mestia Municipality 2020-2024, developed in 2019 by the Business, Public and Civil Sector of Zemo Svaneti with the assistance of PMC Research.
The strategy was elaborated as part of the project “Support to the Development of Livelihoods in Disadvantaged Rural Regions of Georgia – Mestia/Samegrelo - Upper Svaneti Region,” which is funded by the European Union with co-funding from the Austrian Development Cooperation and is being implemented by Care Austria (CARE), in collaboration with PMC Research.
Hotel Price Index ( December , 2019 )
27-Jan-2020
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 140 GEL per night in December 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 213 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 69 GEL per night.
Monthly Tourism Update (December , 2019)
22-Jan-2020
In December 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index3 increased by 9.1% compared to November 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 6.4%, while for guesthouses, the price index increased by 13.9%.
ifo World Economic Survey (2019, IV)
10-Jan-2020
Publication by our partner Ifo Institute for Economic Research that estimates World Economic Outlook in Emerging Markets and Developing Economies according to 2019 year. This research was prepared by Ifo and was originally published in Ifo World Economic Survey, IV 2019 November, Vol. 18. PMC Research Center is a regional partner of Ifo Institute in South Caucasus.
Hotel Price Index ( November, 2019 )
23-Dec-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 129 GEL per night in November 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 202 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 64 GEL per night.
Monthly Tourism Update (November, 2019)
23-Dec-2019
In November 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased by 6.4% compared to October 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 6.0%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 9.4%.
Hotel Price Index (October 2019)
16-Dec-2019
In October 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index3 decreased by 5.9% compared to September 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 5.9%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 6.2%.
Monthly Tourism Update (October, 2019)
16-Dec-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room1 in a 3-star hotel was 138 GEL per night in October 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 215 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 69 GEL per night.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q4, 2019)
18-Nov-2019
In the fourth quarter of 2019, Georgian economic climate has slightly worsened.In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation positively; Moreover, the assessment of present economic situation in this quarter has improved compared to the third quarter of 2019 and the fourth quarter of 2018.
Black Sea Bulletin: Tourism in the Black Sea Region
12-Nov-2019
Tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in the world. It creates three hundred million jobs and accounts for 10% of global GDP. This bulletin reviews the tourism sectors of countries bordering the Black Sea in the last 6 years. The analysis is centered on the number of visits, dynamics, and the relationship between tourism and economic growth.
Hotel Price Index (September, 2019)
28-Oct-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room1 in a 3-star hotel was 145 GEL per night in September 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 227 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 73 GEL per night.
Monthly Tourism Update (September , 2019)
28-Oct-2019
In September 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index1 decreased by 3.5% compared to August 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 3.8%, while for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 4.4%.
Issue 113: Analysis of Tighter Lending Regulations in Georgia
17-Oct-2019
In the past year, in response to rising levels of private debt, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) enacted new regulations to curb excessive indebtedness. The impacts of the implemented regulations are as yet unclear but generally the reaction in the private sector has been negative. In this newsletter, a brief overview of the possible implications of these lending regulations are presented.
Hotel Price Index (August , 2019)
19-Sep-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room1 in a 3-star hotel was 151 GEL per night in August 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 230 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 75 GEL per night.
Monthly Tourism Update (August, 2019)
19-Sep-2019
In August 2019, compared to August 2018, hotel prices in Georgia decreased by 2.4%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels decreased by 5.3%, while the prices of guestouses increased by 3.1%
Monthly Tourism Update (July , 2019)
12-Sep-2019
In July 2019, compared to July 2018, hotel prices in Georgia decreased by 6.5%. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels decreased by 8.7%, while the prices of guestouses decreased by 2.8%. In July 2019, compared to July 2018, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by 5.8%, and among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 1%.
Gender Pay Gap in Georgia
09-Sep-2019
Gender pay gap has become a prominent issue across the world. Indeed, women on average earn 25% less than men in a number of Western countries. This gap has negative effects not only on society as a whole, but also on economic growth. According to McKinsey & Company, achieving gender parity could increase the economy by two digit percentage points.
ifo World Economic Survey (August, 2019)
04-Sep-2019
The World Economic Survey (WES) assesses global economic trends by polling transnational and national organizations worldwide on current economic developments in their respective countries. Its results offer a rapid, up-to-date assessment of the current economic situation internationally. In July 2019, 1,173 economic experts in 116 countries were polled.
Issue 112: Gender Pay Gap In Georgia
03-Sep-2019
The aim of this newsletter is to briefly examine the roots of the gender pay gap in Georgia, to reveal the differences of average wage in various sectors, distributions of labour force according to gender and hourly wages for males and females. Due to data limitations, only the wages of hired employees are considered.
Hotel Price Index (July 2019)
30-Aug-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 148 GEL per night in July 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 224 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 73 GEL per night.
The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in July 2019 was 482 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 588 GEL, followed by Adjara – 453 GEL, and Kakheti - 399 GEL and Samstkhe-Javakheti - 380 GEL.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q3, 2019)
13-Aug-2019
In the third quarter of 2019, Georgian economic climate has worsened rapidly. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation negatively; Moreover, the assessment of present economic situation in this quarter has deteriorated compared to both the previous quarter (Q2) of 2019 and the same time last year (Q3 of 2018). In the third quarter of 2019, Georgia’s economic situation in the next six months has also been assessed negatively by Georgian economists. In this quarter, expectations in six months has worsened compared to both, the second quarter of 2019 and the third quarter of 2018.
Diversification of Rural Economy in Georgia
07-Aug-2019
The research aims to study the current state of affairs in the rural economy and to identify steps towards its diversification by analyzing the vision, strategy and programs of the Government of Georgia, as well as regional and municipal authorities. We evaluated the development potential of linkages between farm and non-farm sectors and basic factors supporting the diversification of the rural economy.
Review of Monitoring and Evaluation Practices in the Georgian Government
25-Jul-2019
The main objective of the research is to study the extent to which the measurement of progress and the use of measurement data play a role in Georgian policymaking.
The research was conducted by PMC Research in collaboration with People in Need, as part of the EU project “Regional Civil Society Organizations Supporting Free Trade with Europe.”
Leveraging Small and Medium-sized Enterprise Finance Through Value Chains in Georgia
25-Jul-2019
This paper examines the status of SME finance in Georgia and the involvement of Georgian SMEs in global value chains. The role of SMEs in Georgia’s economy, SME funding, and the status of financial inclusion for SMEs are analyzed. Moreover, the level of financial literacy and skills of SME entrepreneurs is discussed. Furthermore, the paper analyzes the Georgian agricultural sector’s value chain and the involvement of this sector in global value chains by discussing the case study of the hazelnut. An analysis of the agricultural sector’s value chain financing in Georgia is carried out, its availability and development are discussed, and best practices of value chain financing are analyzed. Based on existing information, the paper identifies barriers to SME finance in Georgia and proposes policy recommendations and immediate actions with regard to existing government policies.
Hotel Price Index (June, 2019)
19-Jul-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 137 GEL per night in June 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 232 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 76 GEL per night. The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in June 2019 was 448 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 618 GEL, followed by Samstkhe-Javakheti - 417 GEL, Adjara – 384 GEL, and Kakheti - 369 GEL.
Monthly Tourism Update (June, 2019)
19-Jul-2019
In June 2019, compared to June 2018, hotel prices in Georgia decreased by 2.9%, this was mainly due to the prices of 3*, 4*,5* hotels. The prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels decreased by 7.3%, while the prices of guestouses increased by 9.9%. In June 2019, compared to June 2018, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by 19.9%, and among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 18%.
Sectoral Analysis of Regional Markets in Georgia by Using the Components of Smart Specialization
17-Jul-2019
The study aims to map and analyze the private sector in Tbilisi, Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region (Senaki, Zugdidi, Tsalenjikha, and Poti municipalities) and Kvemo Kartli region (Marneuli municipality).
The assessment methodology entailed a combination of desk research and qualitative study. During the desk research, the size of the market in each of the target regions was studied and, by using the economic potential component of the Smart Specialization methodology, a private sector assessment was conducted. Smart Specialization is an approach that has been elaborated by the European Union (EU), and is widely used when analyzing national and regional competitiveness.
Under this approach, we have identified vital economic sectors (concentrated and competitive economic sectors) for the targeted regions, by using regional analysis methods such as location quotient (LQ) and shift-share analysis. With the help of shift-share analyses, competitive sectors for the targeted regions were identified, while concentrated sectors were identified by using LQ. After identifying concentrated and competitive sectors for targeted regions, the sectors which were both concentrated and competitive were chosen. If there was no such sector in a given location, then sectors were selected based on the shift-share analysis results. In addition, by applying enterprise birth and survival analysis, we identified economically active sub-sectors within each selected sector.
Monthly Tourism Update (May, 2019)
21-Jun-2019
In May 2019, compared to May 2018, hotel prices in Georgia increased by 3.4%, this was mainly due to the prices of guesthouses.In Georgia, in May 2019, compared to May 2018, the prices of 3*, 4*, 5* hotels decreased by 2.5%, while the prices of guestousesincreased by 15.9%. In May 2019, compared to May 2018, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by14.2%, and among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists)increased by 18%;
Hotel Price Index (May, 2019)
21-Jun-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room1 in a 3-star hotel was 128 GEL per night in May 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-starhotel in Georgia was 219 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse2 was 76 GEL per night.The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in May 2019 was 494 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 612 GEL,followed by Adjara – 479 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 375 GEL, and Kakheti - 375 GEL.
Issue 111: External Trade, I Quarter 2019
04-Jun-2019
The first quarter of 2019 produced some interesting figures in Georgia’s external trade. In this period, external trade was recorded with a total of 121 countries. The data analysis shows that in the first quarter of 2019, compared with the corresponding period of the previous year, Georgia’s export has increased while the country’s import decreased. The analysis of Georgian trade based on import origin and export destination countries reveals that the volume of export has increased the most to Russia while the biggest decrease in imports was recorded with France.
Hotel Price Index (April, 2019)
27-May-2019
In Georgia, the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was 123 GEL per night in April 2019. While the average cost of a room in a 4-star hotel in Georgia was 215 GEL per night and the average cost of a room in a guesthouse was 70 GEL per night.
The average cost of a room in a 5-star hotel in Georgia in April 2019 was 484 GEL per night. In Tbilisi, the average price was 525 GEL, followed by Adjara – 473 GEL, Samtskhe-Javakheti - 368 GEL, and Kakheti - 367 GEL.
In April 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 2.2% compared to March 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 0.5%, while for guesthouses, the price index increased by 5%. In April 2019, compared to April 2018, the hotel prices in Georgia decreased by 1.8%. This was mainly due to price decreases of 3*, 4* and 5* hotels.
In Georgia in April 2019, compared to April 2018, the prices of 3*, 4* and 5* hotels decreased by 2.9%, while the prices of guesthouses increased by 1.9%.
Monthly Tourism Update (April, 2019)
27-May-2019
In April 2019, compared to April 2018, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by 4.6%, and among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 4.2%, however the hotel prices in Georgia decreased by 1.8%, among them the prices of 3*, 4* and 5* hotels decreased by 2.9%, while the prices of guesthouses increased by 1.9%.
In April 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 2.2% compared to March 2019. The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 0.5%, while for guesthouses, the price index increased by 5%. It has to be noted that In April 2019, compared to March 2019, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by 4.6%, while among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 6.1%.
In Georgia, in the first quarter of 2019, the expenditure spent by international travelers on accomodation amounted USD 101.8 mln, while the average expenditure per visit - 228.9 GEL. These are accordingly 1.5% and 2.6% lower compared to the first quarter of 2018.
According to Airbnb, In April 2019, among the Black Sea Countries the lowest price for an apartment was recorded in the capital of Bulgaria, Sofia – 40 USD, while the highest price was recorded in Moscow – 100 USD.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q2, 2019)
15-May-2019
In the second quarter of 2019, Georgian economic climate has slightly improved. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation positively, However, the assessment of pres- ent economic situation in this quarter has deteriorated compared to the first quarter of 2019 and the second quarter of 2018. In the second quarter of 2019, Georgia’s economic situation in the next six months has also been assessed positively by Georgian economists. In this quarter, expectations in six months has slightly improved compared to the first quarter of 2019; Not- withstanding, the expectations in six months of Q2 2019 has deteriorated compared with the Q2 2018.
Hotel Price Index (March, 2019)
22-Apr-2019
In March 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 5.1% compared to February 2019. The prices of hotels in Tbilisi increased by 4.2%. In March 2019, compared to February 2019, the increase of hotel prices in Georgia, can be linked to increased number of tourists trips, as the number of international travelers trips in Georgia increased by 31.9%, while among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 32.6%.
In March 2019, compared to March 2018, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 1.1%. The number of international travelers in March 2019, compared to March 2018, increased by 6.4%, while among the international travelers the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 4.3%.
It has to be noted that 2018 was the first year, when share of nights spent by the international travelers in hotels exceeded the share of nights spent in friends and relatives house. In Georgia, in 2018, by international travelers, the highest share of nights were spent in hotels - 39.6%, 26.5% of nights were spent in friends and relatives house, while in guesthouses - 12.7% and in apartment - 11.7%.
In Tbilisi, among the 3-star hotels registered on booking.com website the highest share of prices ranges between 50-150 GEL, for 4-star hotels 150-300 GEL, while for guesthouses - 0-150 GEL
Issue 110: Foreign Direct Investments in Georgia (2014 - 2018)
15-Apr-2019
Analysis of FDI into Georgia for 2014-2018 revealed the following general findings:
In 2018, the financial, transport and communications, and energy sectors attracted the most FDI;
In 2018, Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands were the countries investing most in Georgia;
Based on the cumulative amounts of FDI for the past five years, transport and communications (28.4%) is the most attractive sector for FDI in Georgia, while the agricultural sector is the least attractive (0.8%);
Based on the cumulative amounts, countries investing most in Georgia are: Azerbaijan, Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Turkey and USA.
The shares of FDI from China and the EU in the total FDI into Georgia have been increasing since 2017;
During 2017-2018, the share of reinvestments in the total FDI into Georgia increased, while the shares of equity and debt instruments decreased.
Who gets to be Educated in Georgia: Constraints on Human Capital Development
25-Mar-2019
Human capital development is increasingly seen as the biggest driver of economic growth and the most powerful tool in the fi ght against poverty (World Bank, 2018). This idea is embodied in the World Bank’s new initiative - Human Capital Project, which is designed to stimulate more and better investment in human capital. As one of early adopter countries, Georgia is collaborating with the World Bank to build an evidencedriven strategy for accelerating progress in human capital outcomes.
Issue 109: Inequality in Education
14-Mar-2019
Human capital development is increasingly seen as the biggest driver of economic growth and the most powerful tool in the fight against poverty (World Bank, 2018). This idea is embodied in the World Bank’s new…
Hotel Price Index (February, 2019)
14-Mar-2019
In February 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased by 1.7% compared to January 2019. In Tbilisi, the hotel prices decreased by 1.9%. The decrease of hotel prices in Georgia, can be linked to decreased number of tourists' trips. In February 2019, compared to January 2019, the number of international travelers trips in Georgia decreased by 11.2%, while among the international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) decreased by 19%.The number of international travelers visiting Georgia in February 2019, compared to February 2018, decreased by 0.4%. However, of these international travelers, the proportion who stayed in Georgia for 24 hours or more (classified as tourists) increased by 5.1%. This was expected to have a positive effect on hotel price increases, however in February 2019, compared to February 2018, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased insignificantly by 0.4%. This was mainly due to price decreases of guesthouses. While, the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 2.2%, for guesthouses, the price index decreased by 2.9%.It's worth to be mentioned that the revenue from international travelers amounted 3.2 billion USD in 2018. According to countries, the most revenue from international travelers was received from Russia - 26.3% (USD 842 mln), followed by Turkey - 13.7% (USD 437 mln), and EU countries - 12.3% (USD 394 mln). In 2018, compared to 2017, the shares of revenues from internationals travelers from Turkey, Ukraine, Armenia and Iran decreased, while shares of Russia, EU countries and Iran increased.
Black Sea Bulletin: Exchange Rates - 2018
11-Mar-2019
In this bulletin, we discuss exchange rate dynamics in the countries of the Black Sea region during the period of 2014-2018. In particular, the exchange rates of these countries’ currencies against the USD and EUR…
Economic Diplomacy in Georgia: Existing Practice and Future Prospects
27-Feb-2019
The purposes of this policy paper are to present the priorities of the Government of Georgia (GoG) in economic diplomacy, to map economic diplomacy institutions, and to describe their functions. It also aims to present practical cases of conducting economic diplomacy. Case studies of selected EU Member States which have assigned strategic importance to economic diplomacy in achieving their economic development goals are presented and these contribute to the elaboration of recommendations for Georgia.
Hotel Price Index (January, 2019)
25-Feb-2019
In January 2019, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased by 3.9% compared to December 2018. Among ten regions of Georgia and Tbilisi, in January 2019, compared to December 2018, the hotel prices increased only in Racha (1.3%). In Tbilisi, hotel prices decreased by 4.2%. In January 2019, compared to…
The Belt and Road Initiative in the South Caucasus Region
22-Feb-2019
The aim of the project is to study the impact of the BRI on the countries of Central Asia and the South Caucasus (CASC) and ascertain how these countries individually and through regional cooperative efforts can maximize the benefits of the BRI and manage any potential risks.
Tomato Value Chain Analysis in Imereti Region
21-Feb-2019
PMC Research, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Imereti region, conducted value chain analysis on tomato with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Blackberry Value Chain Analysis in Kakheti Region
21-Feb-2019
PMC Research, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Kakheti region, conducted value chain analysis on blackberry with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q1, 2019)
19-Feb-2019
In the first quarter of 2019, Georgian economic climate slightly improved. In this period, Georgian economists assessed Georgia’s present economic situation positively. The assessment of present economic situation in this quarter has deteriorated compared with the first quarter of 2018; However, it has improved compared to the fourth quarter of 2018.
Issue 108: Employment in Georgia (2014-2017)
13-Feb-2019
Increasing the employment rate represents one of the most significant challenges and priorities of the Georgian economy. This bulletin appraises trends related to employment for the period of 2014-2017.
Laurel Value Chain Analysis in Samegrelo Region
04-Feb-2019
PMC Research, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Samegrelo region, conducted value chain analysis on laurel with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Carrot Value Chain Analysis in Samtskhe-Javakheti Region
31-Jan-2019
PMC Research, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Samtskhe-Javakheti region, conducted value chain analysis on carrot with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Hotel Price Index (December, 2018)
22-Jan-2019
In December 2018, compared to November 2018, in Tbilisi, the hotel price index increased by 11.9%. The growth rate of guesthouse prices (21%) significantly exceeded the growth rate of 3*, 4* and 5* hotel prices (9.3%). Notably, the given dynamics differs from the dynamics of the previous year, when the overall price level of hotels in Tbilisi increased by 12.5%, the 3*, 4* and 5* hotel prices rose by 15.1%, while guesthouse prices grew only by 3.6%.
In December 2018, compared to December 2017, the hotel price index increased by 1% in Georgia. The daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Adjara (21.1%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (14.8%). Whereas in Tbilisi, the overall price level of hotels decreased by 9.8%. This is mainly due to the price decreases in 3*, 4* and 5* hotels in Tbilisi. While the prices of 3*, 4* and 5* hotels decreased by 14.7% in Tbilisi, the prices of guesthouses increased by 9%.
It is of note that during the previous year, the number of 3*, 4* and 5* hotels registered on booking.com in Tbilisi grew by 46%, while the pool of registered guesthouses expanded by 19.1%.
Khulo Local Development Strategy
16-Jan-2019
PMC Research developed Khulo local development strategy, aiming at improve employment and living conditions in Khulo Municipality through diversification of the rural economy.
Khulo Municipality Tourism Development Plan
14-Jan-2019
The goal is to define and implement a plan for transforming resources and assets into the world-class tourism products, destination sites and create visitor’s experiences that will attract tourists from the region as well as from the world highest spending travel markets that will contribute to the national economy and local development.
Hotel Price Index (November, 2018)
18-Dec-2018
• In November 2018, compared to November 2017, in Georgia the hotel price index decreased by 0.1%;• In November 2018, compared to November 2017, the daily rates for standard double hotel rooms decreased the most in Guria(-14.7%) and Kakheti (-13.6%);• In November 2018, compared to November 2017, the hotel prices in Tbilisi decreased by 8.9%;• In November 2018, the average cost of a room in each category was as follows: 3-star hotel room - 120 GEL per night; 4-star hotelroom - 221 GEL; 5-star hotel room - 489 GEL; guesthouse room- 63 GEL;• In November 2018, compared to October 2018, the hotel price index decreased by 11.2%.
Issue 107: Georgia in International Rankings in 2018
12-Dec-2018
Georgia was ranked 66th among 140 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Competitiveness Index1 in 2018.
During 2010-2018 Georgia’s position in the ranking was improving, except one year. In 2018, compared to 2017, Georgia’s position in the ranking improved by 1 place.
Among the so-called pillars measured to calculate the Global Competitiveness Index in 2018, Georgia scored best in terms of its labor market (31st place) while it was least competitive in
terms of market size (102th place).
Among the Central Asia and South Caucasus countries2 in 2018, Kazakhstan was the top performer in this Global Competetiveness Index (59th place), while Tajikistan held the lowest position in the index (102nd place).
Hotel Price Index (October, 2018)
21-Nov-2018
In October 2018, compared to October 2017, in Georgia the hotel price index increased by 7.2%;
In October 2018, compared to October 2017, the daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Adjara (22.7%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (17.9%);
In October 2018, compared to 2017, the hotel prices in Tbilisi increased by 1.3%;
Georgian Economic Climate (Q4, 2018)
19-Nov-2018
In the fourth quarter of 2018, Georgian economic climate barely remained satisfactory. In this period, Georgian economistsassessed Georgia’s present economic situation satisfactorily. However, assessment of present economic situation in this quarter deteriorated compared to the third quarter of 2018, and the fourth quarter of 2017.
Hotel Price Index (September, 2018)
15-Oct-2018
During October 2017 – September 2018 period, in Tbilisi the highest average prices of a room in a 3* and 4* hotels were recorded in December 2017, respectively 165 GEL and 293 GEL, the lowest prices were recorded in February 2018, respectively 124 GEL and 214 GEL.
In September 2018, the hotel price index decreased by 5.9% compared to August 2018;
In September 2018, the average cost of a room in each category was as follows: 3-star hotel room - 135 GEL per night; 4-star hotel room - 244 GEL; 5-star hotel room - 521 GEL; guesthouse room- 70 GEL.
Issue 106: Foreign Direct Investment, January-June 2018
18-Sep-2018
Analysis of the preliminary data on FDI for the first half of 2018 revealed the following general findings:
The financial, energy, and construction sectors attracted the most FDI;
Azerbaijan, the United Kingdom, and the Netherlands were the largest investing countries for Georgia;
Based on the cumulative values of the past 4.5 years, transports and communications is the most attractive sector for FDI in Georgia;
The shares of FDI from China and the EU in the total FDI in Georgia were their highest since 2014;
Based on a semi-annual analysis, reinvestments surpassed equity for the first time in th e available data of 2013-2018.
Hotel Price Index (August, 2018)
17-Sep-2018
In August 2018, the hotel price index increased only by 0.01% compared to July 2018;
In August 2018, the daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Guria (7.6%), while the hotel prices decreased mostly in Samtskhe-Javakheti (-1.6%);
In August 2018, the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index decreased by 0.9% compared to July 2018;
In Guria the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price increased by 18.4%, such price increase was primarily due to 3, 4 and 5 star hotel price increases in Ureki;
In August 2018, in Tbilisi, the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel prices decreased by 0.3% compared to July 2018;
In August 2018, the average cost of a room in each category was as follows: 3-star hotel room - 147 GEL per night; 4-star hotel room - 253 GEL; 5-star hotel room - 455 GEL; guesthouse room- 74 GEL.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q3, 2018)
04-Sep-2018
In the third quarter of 2018, Georgian economists positively assessed Georgia’s Economic Climate Indicator (ECI). The Georgianeconomy is categorized under “Boom” with a positive assessment of its present situation and expectation for the next sixmonths.
Raspberry Value Chain Analysis in Mtskheta-Mtianeti Region
21-Aug-2018
PMC Research Centre, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Mtskheta-Mtianeti region, conducted value chain analysis on raspberry with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Broccoli Value Chain Analysis in Kvemo Kartli Region
21-Aug-2018
PMC Research, in cooperation with regional civil society organizations of the Kvemo Kartli region, conducted value chain analysis on broccoli with an emphasis on the export potential to the European Union market.
Hotel Price Index (July, 2018)
10-Aug-2018
In July 2018, the hotel price index increased by 2.7% compared to June 2018;
In July 2018, the daily rates for standard double hotel rooms increased the most in Adjara(10.1%) and Samtskhe-Javakheti (5.9%), while the hotel prices decreased only in Tbilisi (-1.2%);
In July, the average cost of a room in each category was as follows: 3-star hotel room - 148 GEL per night; 4-star hotel room - 254 GEL; 5-star hotel room - 455 GEL; guesthouse room- 72 GEL;
In Tbilisi, the 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel prices decreased by 2.1% in July 2018, compared to June 2018;
On Tripadvisor, 1618 accommodation units are registered in Tbilisi, significantly exceeding the number of accommodation units registered in Baku - 456, Yerevan - 436 and Ankara – 364.
Issue 105: External Trade, January-June 2018
03-Aug-2018
The first half of 2018 produced some interesting figures regarding Georgia’s external trade. Even though the existing data is only preliminary, the analysis thereof unveils some curious results. Georgia’s exports and imports reached their highest point for the observed period of 2015-2018. In the first half of 2018, Georgia was recorded to have conduced external trade with 133 countries, a record-breaking amount in the observed period. With free trade agreements already in place with China and the EU, we have been able to conduct a rough analysis of the effects of the two agreements so far. To analyze these effects, the observed period is taken from January 2015 to June 2018.
Hotel Price Index (June, 2018)
12-Jul-2018
In June 2018, the hotel price index increased by 8.6% compared to May 2018;
The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 10.6% in June 2018 compared to May 2018;
Among 3*, 4* and 5* hotels the highest price increases were recorded in Adjara – 36% and Guria – 32.8%, in Tbilisi prices increased only by 0.4%;
In June the average cost of a room in a 3-star hotel was GEL 143 per night, 4-star hotel - 247 GEL, 5-star hotel - 403 GEL, guesthouses - 73 GEL.
Issue 104: External Factors Affecting the Value of Georgian Lari Exchange Rate
10-Jul-2018
For the period of 2014 to 2017, in every first quarter of each year compared to the first quarter of the previous year, the nominal exchange rate of the Georgian Lari (GEL) against the US Dollar (USD) depreciated. This trend stopped this year though as in the first quarter of 2018, compared to the first quarter of 2017, the GEL appreciated by 4.5% and the value of 1 USD was equal to 2.49 GEL (average exchange rate in the first quarter of 2018).
Hotel Price Index (May, 2018)
15-Jun-2018
The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 2% in May 2018 compared to April 2018;
For guesthouses, the price index decreased by 1.8% in May 2018 compared to April 2018;
According to Airbnb, in May 2018, looking at the self-governing cities of Georgia the highest average cost of an apartment was recorded in Batumi-US$48;
In the first quarter of 2018, compared to the first quarter of 2017, the number of inbound visitors increased significantly in Imereti (by 67%) and Mtskheta-Mtianeti (by 47%).
Issue 103: Gross Domestic Product, 2017
28-May-2018
According to preliminary data, the Georgian economy is characterized by a 5.0% growth in 2017, which is the highest annual real growth rate for the country since 2012. A trend analysis of GDP is useful in comprehending the indicator relative to previous years. Furthermore, a sectorial analysis of Georgia’s GDP enables us to understand the reasons behind the country’s economic growth in 2017. The three sectors which recorded the most significant growth in 2017, namely hotels and restaurants, construction, and financial intermediation, have been selected for further examination.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q2, 2018)
28-May-2018
Georgian Economic Climate is a joint product of PMC Research Center and the ifo Institute for Economic Research. In this bulletin, we discuss Georgia’s economic climate as assessed by Georgian economists. PMC Research is a regional partner of the ifo Institute, one of the leading economic research institutesin Europe,specializing in applied economic research, policy advising and other services for governments, businesses, researchers and the public.
Hotel Price Index (April, 2018)
14-May-2018
The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 3.4% in April 2018, compared to March 2018;
The prices for guesthouses increased by 6% in April 2018, compared to March 2018;
According to Airbnb, in April 2018, looking at the capital cities of Georgia and its neighboring countries1 the cheapest apartments were found in Ankara (on average US$35 per night), while the most expensive were found in Moscow (on average US$130 per night);
On Airbnb, in April the average price of an apartment in Tbilisi was US$44 per night, while in Georgia as a whole it was US$45 per night;
According to the Georgian National Tourism Administration, during 2016-2017 the highest number of accommodation units2 in Georgia were opened in Guria, with a total of 30 units.
Black Sea Bulletin: External Trade - 2017
10-May-2018
In the first issue of the publication the main focus of discussion is individual and inter-regional external trade, helping us to identify the economic ties among the involved countries.
Issue 102: Higher and Vocational Education, 2013-2017
03-May-2018
High-quality education is one of the main determinants of economic growth. According to the “Government Program 2016-2020”, education is one of the main priorities for the Government of Georgia. Since 2013, the allocated budget of the Ministry of Education and Sciences of Georgia and its share in GDP has been increasing annually. These dynamics can affect, both directly and indirectly, on economic indicators such as productivity, competitiveness, unemployment and welfare. In this regard, the review of different aspects of higher and vocational education is worthwhile.
Hotel Price Index (March, 2018)
16-Apr-2018
The 3-star, 4-star and 5-star hotel price index increased by 9% in March 2018, compared to February 2018;In March 2018, the daily rates for 3-star, 4-star and 5-star standard double hotel rooms increased significantly in Tbilisi (15.5%), while the daily rates decreased the most in Mtskheta-Mtianeti (-10.6%);During the last five months (November 2017-March 2018), in terms of regions, the most expensive 3-star and 4-star hotels were in Mtskheta-Mtianeti; In March 2018, 292,017 tourists visited Georgia, which is 64% more compared to February.
Hotel Price Index (February, 2018)
21-Mar-2018
In this bulletin, we discuss: hotel prices in February across different regions of Georgia; the hotel price index in February 2018 compared to January 2018; monthly hotel price changes during the November 2017-February 2018 period.
Georgian Economic Climate (Q1, 2018)
16-Mar-2018
Georgian Economic Climate is a joint product of PMC Research Center and the ifo Institute for Economic Research. In this bulletin, we discuss Georgia’s economic climate as assessed by Georgian economists. PMC Research is a regional partner of the ifo Institute, one of the leading economic research institutesin Europe,specializing in applied economic research, policy advising and other services for governments, businesses, researchers and the public.
Options for Railway Infrastructure Development in Tbilisi
12-Mar-2018
This study compares the following four alternatives: keeping the status quo (Option 1); the 2009 Tbilisi Railway Bypass Project (Option 2); a city tunnel from Navtlughi district to Didube district (Option 3); and retaining the city’s main railway line and central station, but relocating all other railway infrastructure from the Didube-Nadzaladevi districts to the city’s peripheral districts (Option 4).
101: Georgia in International Rankings
05-Mar-2018
Positions in international rankings are an important indicator of how a country is performing with regard to its economic, social and political environment. In this bulletin, Georgia’s positions in international rankings and their dynamics will be reviewed based on recent data.
Hotel Price Index (January, 2018)
19-Feb-2018
In this bulletin, we discuss hotel prices in January across different regions of Georgia and calculate the hotel price index in January 2018 compared to December 2017. Information about hotels and hotel price data were collected by contacting hotels individually and by using the booking.com website.
Hotel Price Index (December, 2017)
01-Feb-2018
In this bulletin, we discuss hotel prices in December across different regions of Georgia and calculate the hotel price index in December 2017 compared to November 2017. Information about hotels and hotel price data were collected by contacting hotels individually and by using the booking.com website.
Georgia as a Transit Hub and its Increasing Potential in the Implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative
25-Jan-2018
This paper has identified a clear interconnection between the BRI and Georgia’s economic development strategy in terms of infrastructure development and trade facilitation. Furthermore, this paper has suggested that Georgia could leverage the advantages of its trade agreements (DCFTA with the EU; FTA with China) and favourable business environment to be an important transit hub in the South Caucasus region and beyond.
100: Georgian Economy - Overview, 2007-2017
16-Jan-2018
The 100th edition of Economic Outlook and Indicators happily coincides with PMCG’s 10-year anniversary. Through the last decade, Georgia’s economic indicators have fluctuated substantially. In this edition, we present the dynamics of development for this period, and also analyze the main economic indicators for 2007-2017.
99: Tourism- January-September, 2017
13-Nov-2017
In 2017, compared to the corresponding period of 2016:
• In the first three quarters, the number of tourists increased by 29%; in the third quarter, the proportion of tourists making up total international travelers reached its peak at 52.1%.• In the first three quarters, the proportion of air travel in all travel rose by 26% while travel by land decreased by 5%.• In the first three quarters, the number of persons arriving at any of Georgia’s three international airports (Batumi, Kutaisi, and Tbilisi) increased by 47%.• From January to August, payments made by foreign credit cards in Georgia increased by 33% and payments made by Georgian credit cards in foreign countries increased by 37%.
98: Development of the Agricultural Sector- January-June, 2017
07-Sep-2017
In the agricultural sector:
In the last eight years, total production output has fluctuated between 7.8% and10.3% of gross domestic product
In the first quarter of 2017, foreign direct investment amounted to negative US$0.3 mln
In the first half of 2017, the volume of loans in the national currency almost reached the volume of loans in foreign currencies
In the first half of 2017, the volume of imports was 2.4 times the volume of exports
97: Remittances - January-June, 2017
26-Jul-2017
In the first half of 2017:
Remittance inflows to Georgia amounted to $629 Mln
Remittance outflows from Georgia amounted to $96.3 Mln
Inflow from Russian Federation, United States, Italy, Greece, Israel, and Turkey amounts to 81% of total remittance inflows to Georgia
96: Construction - I Quarter, 2017
06-Jul-2017
In the first quarter of 2017, compared to the corresponding period of 2016:
Production value of the construction sector increased by 13%;
Total turnover of the construction sector increased by 16%;
Foreign direct investments in the construction sector increased by 188% (GEL 36.4 mln);
The number of persons employed in the construction sector increased by 2.8% (1,600 persons).
Issue 95: Business Sector - I Quarter, 2017
22-Jun-2017
In the first quarter of 2017, compared to the corresponding period of 2016:
The production value of the business sector significantly increased (16%);
A 19.1% increase in total turnover was observed;
The number of persons employed in the business sector increased (4.7%; 27,000 persons);
The average monthly remuneration of persons employed in the business sector increased (11%; GEL 101.6).
Issue 94: External Trade, January-April, 2017
07-Jun-2017
In January-April 2017, compared to the corresponding period of last year:• Both, export (29.7%) and import (12.7%) volumes increased;• Turkey was the leading trade partner of Georgia (14.6% of total trade turnover); • The proportion of EU countries in total trade turnover reached 27%;• The volume of export to Russia significantly increased (131%);• Of Georgia’s exports, 9.9% went to China.
Issue 93: Visa Requirements Map
11-May-2017
The map provides information about the visa requirements for Georgian visitors in abroad. It also gives information which type of visa foreign visitors need to enter to Georgia. Moreover, the other visa related information by country is also provided on the map.
Issue 92: Banking Sector, January-February, 2017
24-Apr-2017
According to data for February 2017, compared to the corresponding period in 2016:
• The volume of deposits increased by 7.4%;• The volume of loans to the national economy increased by 15.4%;• The share of loans for construction in total loans increased significantly (2.2 percentage points), while the share of loans for trade decreased (-2.9 percentage points);• The share of non-performing loans in total loans decreased (-0.6 percentage points).
Issue 91: Foreign Direct Investments, 2016
27-Mar-2017
Based on the preliminary data, in 2016 compared to 2015:
• The volume of foreign direct investment (FDI) increased by 5% and amounted to 1.6 bln. USD. • The largest increase in FDI came from Turkey (200 mln. USD), amounting to 272 mln. USD. • By sector, the biggest increases in the volume of FDI were in manufacturing (79%, 53 mln. USD) and in the energy industry (64%; 79 mln. USD). Meanwhile, in the financial sector the volume of investment decreased (-24%; 42 mln. USD). • The volume of investment increased in Kvemo Kartli (265%; 56 mln. USD) but decreased in Adjara (-21%; 43 mln. USD).
Issue 90: Visitors in Georgia - January - February 2017
09-Mar-2017
In January-February 2017, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year:
• The number of international visitors increased by 71 000 people and reached 775 000 persons; • The number of visitors increased from Russia (31 400 people), Armenia (24 300 people) and Iran (12 400 people) while the number of visitors decreased from Turkey (-19 700 people); • The number of visitors arriving at Tbilisi International Airport increased by 38 500 people, at Kutaisi International Airport by 5 000 people and at Batumi Airport by 187 people.
Issue 89: Remittances - 2016
17-Feb-2017
In 2016, compared to 2015:
• The volume of remittances increased by 6.6% and amounted to 1.1 bln USD;• Remittances from Russia, the leading source country, makes up 34.3% of total remittances, a decrease of 8.8%. • The United States moved from fourth to second place, reaching 11.1% of total remittances;• The United States is in the first position in terms of remittances per migrant and is 1.2 times higher than remittances per migrant from Russia.
Issue 88: External Trade - 2016
31-Jan-2017
In 2016, compared to 2015:
• The volume of imports decreased by 0.5%;• The volume of exports decreased by 4.1% while the volume of re-exports decreased by 19.6%. The share of re-exports in total exports reached 21.6%;• For the first time since 2005, Russia is again Georgia’s number one trading partner in terms of exports;• Turkey is still the number one trading partner in terms of imports.
Issue 87: New Excise Tax Rule for Automobiles
18-Jan-2017
Starting from 1st January of 2017 the new rule of excise tax calculation launched. There is a significant increase of excise tax on the automobiles issued before 2005. The excise tax on the automobiles with right-hand side wheel also increased significantly and amounted to 3 times more than the same car with left-hand side wheel. Based on the structure of Georgian autopark, the above graph shows the excise tax on automobiles with 1.6, 1.8 and 3.2 engine. According to the new rule the lowest fee of excise tax is for the cars issued in 2010.
Issue 86: Banking Sector - I - III Quarters, 2016
11-Jan-2017
Analysis of January - November 2016, compared to the corresponding period in 2015:
• Net profit of commercial banks increased by 25.1% (114 mln GEL) and amounted to 567 mln GEL. • The volume of deposits increased (9.4%), as did the volume of loans (7.9%) (adjusted for exchange rate). • The proportion for which construction (by 2.8 percentage points), financial intermediation (2.5 percentage points) and hotels and restaurants (3.0 percentage points) were responsible for total loans increased. • The volume of non-performing loans increased by 9.5% which is mostly due to depreciation of GEL exchange rate.
Issue 85: Construction- I - III Quarters, 2016
20-Dec-2016
According to the first three-quarters of 2016, compared to the corresponding period of 2015:
The volume of production in the construction sector increased by 41.2% and reached 4.2 bln GEL;Foreign direct investment (FDI) in construction increased by 21.8% and reached US$106 bln;The number of people employed in the construction sector increased by 3.1% and amounted to 60.1 thousands of people;The average monthly remuneration of employees in the sector is 1,415 GEL.
Issue 84: Social Expenditures of State Budget - I - III Quarters, 2016
05-Dec-2016
In the first three quarters of 2016, compared to the corresponding period of 2015, in the State Budget: • Total expenditure on social security increased by 10.7% (238.6 mln GEL) and amounts into 2,270 mln GEL, which is 37% of total budget expenditure; • Expenditure on public pension increased by 11.7% (121.2 mln GEL); • Expenditure on general social healthcare program increased by 16.1% (68 mln GEL);
In the State Budget of 2017 expenditures on social security will increase by 8.4%.
Municipalities spent a significant part of their budget for social security, for example, 27.8% (177 mln GEL) of Tbilisi budget costs is spent on social security
Armenia-Georgia Trade: Getting Close or Distant?
29-Nov-2016
Armenia’s decision to join the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU) exempted traders from union member countries from paying value added tax (VAT) and excise tax, thus putting Georgian traders in a disadvantaged position and breaking the main principles of the Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and Armenia.
Issue 82: Average monthly remuneration of employee - I-II Quarters, 2016
17-Oct-2016
In the first half of 2016, compared to the corresponding period of 2015:
• Average monthly remuneration of employees increased by 5.4%.• The highest growth in average monthly remuneration of employees was recorded in construction (12.9%) and fishing (22.7%).• The highest paid sector is still financial services but the wages in public administration remain high compared to the average monthly remuneration across the board.• Average monthly remuneration for male is 37% more than the same indicator for female.
Issue 80: Business Sector - 2016, I-II Quarters
19-Sep-2016
During the first half of 2016 compared to the corresponding period of 2015:
• Production value in the business sector increased by 10.8% as well as increased turnover (13.0%);
• There was an increase in the number of people employed in the business sector (5.8%, 32 400 people) and the average monthly remuneration (5.9%, 53.3 GEL).
Issue 79: State budget compliance - 2016, I-II Quarters
02-Sep-2016
In the first half of 2016:• State budget revenues are executed by 100.5%, while expenditure - by 95.8%. • Expenditure on social benefits significantly increased (12.1%; 161.8 mln GEL) compared to the corresponding period in 2015. This might be due to the increase the expenditure on public health (23.4%; 62.5 mln. GEL).
Issue 78: Banking Sector - 2016, I-II Quarters
12-Aug-2016
In June 2016 compared to the corresponding period in 2015:
• The volume of deposits (13.5%) and the volume of loans (11.2%) increased.• Taking the effect of exchange rate into consideration, the volume of deposits increased by 10.4% while the volume of loans increased by 8.2%.• There was a significant growth in the number of loans in construction (41.9%) as well as in the industrial sector (11.2%).• The average annual interest rate on deposits (-0.4 percentage point) as well as on loans (-1.5 percentage point) decreased.• The volume of non-performing loans increased by 8.4%.
Issue 77: External Trade - I-II Quarters, 2016
02-Aug-2016
In the first half of 2016, compared to the corresponding period of the previous year:
• The volume of exports reduced (-5.7%) overall with the declines especially steep in the export of Ferro-alloys (-32.6%), motor cars (-24.5%) and medicaments (-24.4%).
• If we discount the medicaments for hepatitis C, the volume of imports also decreased (-10.6%) overall with significant declines in the import of petroleum oil (-20.2%), petroleum gases (-28.6%) and motor cars (-15.3%).
• Turkey became a major export partner country, while exports to Azerbaijan reduced significantly.
Issue 76: Average Monthly Incomes and Expenditures per Household - 2015
18-Jul-2016
During the first quarter of 2016, according to the preliminary data:
The real GDP growth rate of Georgia was 2.6%
The most significant sectors were industry (16.9%), trade (15.8%) and transport and communications (13%).
The highest growth was recorded in the construction sector (25.7%), while the largest decline (-1.7%) was recorded in community, social and personal service.
Issue 75: Gross Domestic Products - I Quarter, 2016
01-Jul-2016
During the first quarter of 2016, according to the preliminary data:
The real GDP growth rate of Georgia was 2.6%
The most significant sectors were industry (16.9%), trade (15.8%) and transport and communications (13%).
The highest growth was recorded in the construction sector (25.7%), while the largest decline (-1.7%) was recorded in community, social and personal service.
Issue 74: Foreign Direct Investments - I Quarter, 2016
17-Jun-2016
In the first quarter of 2016, according to the preliminary data:
The volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Georgia increased by 103% compared to the first quarter of 2015 and amounted to US$376.4 mln.
The highest proportion of FDI was invested in Tbilisi (63%).
The biggest three investors in Georgia by country were Azerbaijan (36.4%), Turkey (15%) and United Kingdom (11.7%).
Looking at investment by sector, the most attractive sectors for investors were transport and communications (53.2%), financial services (15.3%) and energy (10.6%).
Issue 73: Analysis of the External Factors Affecting on GEL Exchange Rate
15-Jun-2016
On 15 June 2016, the value of 1 USD is 2.132 GEL, which is 17.2% lower compared to the highest indicator of 2016 (2.498 GEL) so far.
This issue reviews the dynamics of the key indicators, which maintain the inflow and outflow of foreign currencies in Georgia, which have a major role in the calculation of the exchange rate. These indicators are as follows: international trade (export and import), remittances, visitors in Georgia, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and local loans denominated in the foreign currencies and their service costs.
Issue 72: Construction - 2015
20-May-2016
In 2015:
The volume of construction output increased by 4% compared to the corresponding indicator of 2014 and amounted to 4,254 mln GEL.
Foreign Direct Investments in the construction sector declined by 59% compared to the previous year.
The number of individuals employed in the construction sector increased by 4.6% and equaled 64,613. Their average monthly remuneration amounted to 1,531 GEL.
Issue 71: Tax Revenues - January-March, 2016
05-May-2016
In the first quarter of 2016:
The volume of state budget tax revenues increased (8.4%) compared to the corresponding period in 2015.
The indicator of tax revenue compliance compared to the annual plan is 25.7%.
The structure of tax revenues is as follows: VAT (35.5%), income tax (20.2%), profit tax (10%), excise tax (11.1%) and import tax (1.2%).
The revenues increased from import (34.3%) and excise (28.2%) taxes, while the revenues decreased from profit tax (-35.5%), income tax (-10.3%) and VAT (-14.2%).
Issue 70: External Trade - I Quarter, 2016
22-Apr-2016
In the first quarter of 2016:
The volume of registered trade turnover in goods was US$2 146 mln. The share of registered import of goods in total turnover was 79.4% and the share of registered export of goods was 20.6%.
The trade balance has improved by 2.5%, while exports declined by 11.9%, and imports declined by 5.1%.
The top three exported commodities from Georgia are: copper ores (19%), motor cars (8.5%) and nuts (7.4%), while the top three imported commodities to Georgia are: medicaments (15.8%), gases (7.3%) and motor cars (5.8%).
Georgia’s top three export partners are: Turkey (12.4%), China (12.3%) and Russia (9.6%), while the main import partners are: Turkey (17.4%), Ireland (12.3%) and Russia (8.6%).
Issue 69: Gross Domestic Products - 2015
05-Apr-2016
In 2015, according to the preliminary data, the real GDP growth rate of Georgia amounted to 2.8%.In this period, the largest sectors according to production outputs were trade (16.6%) and industry (16.5%), but compared to the previous year their added value declined (-0.3% and -1.1%, respectively). In 2015, the highest growth rate (15.2%) was observed in construction sector.
Issue 68: Foreign Direct Investments - 2015
18-Mar-2016
In 2015, according to the preliminary data, the volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) amounted to US$1 351 mln in Georgia, which is US $407.4 mln less than the adjusted indicator of 2014. This indicator is an important gauge of the stability of the economic environment and exchange rate.
In this period, the biggest investors in Georgia by country were Azerbaijan (40.1%), United Kingdom (14.1%) and Netherlands (8.2%). According to sectors, the highest proportion of FDI was in the transport and communications sector (44%), while the most attractive location for investors was still Tbilisi (81%).
Issue 67: Banking Sector - 2015
19-Feb-2016
In December 2015, compared to the same month of the previous year 2014, the volume of total deposits increased by 24.8% (3 080 mln GEL), while the volume of total loans to the national economy increased by 23.5% (3 074 mln GEL). Taking exchange rates into consideration, the growth rate of the deposits is 5.4% and the growth rate of the loans is 5.8%. In this period, the average interest rate on deposits denominated in foreign currency declined by 0.6 percentage point and on deposits denominated in the national currency increased by 1.1% percentage. Regarding loans, interest rates on loans denominated in foreign currencies declined by 1.1 percentage point and on loans denominated in GEL declined by 0.6% point.The share of the deposits denominated in foreign currencies in total deposits increased by 10.0%, while the share of the loans denominated in the foreign currencies increased by 3.7%. However, taking exchange rates into consideration, the change in these indicators are 4.5 percentage point and -2.2 percentage point, respectively. Therefore, the level of the dollarization of the deposits increased, while the level of dollarization of loans declined.
Issue 66: Analysis of the External Factors Affecting on GEL Exchange Rate
02-Feb-2016
On February 2, 2016, based on the official exchange rate, the value of 1 USD is 2.47 GEL.
During January 2016, GEL depreciated towards USD by 0.08 point (3.1%) compared to the previous month and by 0.5 point (25.5%) compared to January 2015.
This issue reviews the dynamics of the key indicators, which maintain the inflow and outflow of the foreign currency in Georgia, such as: International Trade (Export and Import), Remittances, Visitors in Georgia, Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) and Public External Debt.
Issue 65: Foreign Direct Investment - I-III Quarters, 2015
15-Jan-2016
According to the preliminary data, in the first three quarters of 2015, the volume of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), an important source of economic growth, amounted to US$1019.0 mln in Georgia.
In this period, the largest investors by country were Azerbaijan (38.5%), Netherlands (14.2%) and Turkey (10.8%). The highest proportion of FDI was in the transport and communications sector (56.1%), while the most attractive location for investors was still Tbilisi (78.0%).
Issue 64: “New Year Products” Prices - 2015
06-Jan-2016
The current publication of newsletter gives an overview of four important New Year products, such as walnut, honey, pork and cheese. According to the diffused opinion, the prices of almost every product increases during the New Year time. However, the overall price level declined (-0.6%) in December 2015, compared to November, the same year. The prices have been declined on walnut (-4.7%), honey (-2.8%), pork (-0.7%) and on cheese (-1.0%).In December 2015, compared to corresponding period in 2014, the overall price level increased (4.9%). In this period, prices on walnut (-2.8%), pork (-1.7%) and on cheese (-3.5%) declined, while the price on honey increased (3.8%).
Issue 63: State Budget Compliance - 2015
28-Dec-2015
According to the preliminary data of 2015, state budget revenues as well as state budget expenditures will be complied. Specifically, state budget revenues are expected to be executed by 101.4%, while budget expenditures will reach 99.5% of the planned level.
In 2015, compared to the previous year, spending from the state budget was more balanced which reduced the negative effect of the fiscal policy on exchange rate and inflation in the fourth quarter.
Issue 62: Construction - I-III Quarters, 2015
22-Dec-2015
In the first three quarters of 2015, the share of construction sector in GDP is 6.9%.
In this period, compared to the same period in 2014, the volume of construction output, as well as its turnover increased respectively by 22.5% and 30.8%.The volume of loans to this sector increased also (35.8%).
In the first three quarters of 2015, the volume of FDI in construction sector declined by 47.5% compared to the corresponding indicator of the previous year.
Compulsory Saving Pension Scheme – Challenges and International Practices
10-Dec-2015
Society was always facing material security issue. Conventional approach, market mechanisms were unable to solve all the problems, so the state took responsibility for it. As a result, new challenges raised, that were exacerbated by the latest demographic trends and put under risk future sustainability of the state pensions system. The threat became a basis for the new reforms, including introduction of private pension savings.
Issue 61: Financial Soundness Indicators of the Commercial Banks- October, 2015
04-Dec-2015
In October 2015, considering the effect of foreign exchange rate, the volume of deposits increased by 5.9%, while the volume of loans to the national economy increased by 10.9% compared to the corresponding periods in 2014.
For the period of January-October 2015, the key indicators, which determine the financial sustainability of the commercial banks, are stable.
Issue 60: Public Debt - I-III Quarters, 2015
20-Nov-2015
In the first three quarters of 2015, compared to the indicator of 2014, the external public debt declined by 0.1%, while the corresponding indicator in GEL increased (27.7%), this is attributable to changes in the exchange rate. Hence, the public debt increased by 25.5%. Compared to 2014, the indicator of domestic debt also increased by 16.5%.
In this period, the Government of Georgia’s three largest multilateral creditors were: International Development Association (IDA) - 41.7%; International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) - 20.9%; and Asian Development Bank (ADB) - 16.4%. The largest bilateral creditors are Germany (38.1%), Japan (22.2%) and Russia (12.3%).
Issue 59: Tax Revenues - I-III Quarters, 2015
06-Nov-2015
During the first three quarters of 2015, the tax revenues of the state budget increased by 11.2% compared to the corresponding indicator of 2014. In this period, 75.8% of the planned annual tax revenue for state budget has been realized.
The structure of state budget tax revenues has remained similar to the corresponding indicator in 2015. The revenues so far are composed as follows: value added tax (VAT) - 46.1%; income tax - 26.2%; profit tax - 15.3%; excise tax - 11.2%; and import tax - 0.9%. Compared with the same period in the previous year, the revenues increased for VAT (6.7%), profit (30.0%), income (15.1%) and excise (5.5%) taxes, while it declined for import tax (-30.2%).
Role of Tariff Policy in Improving Energy Efficiency in the Residential Sector
03-Nov-2015
Tariff policy plays an important role in providing “right” price signals for consumers, which is a necessary condition to improve the demand side energy efficiency (EE) in terms of the environmental, social and economic benefits. Improving EE is the most effective way to address challenges of energy security, import dependency and climate change.
Agricultural Land Ownership: The Optimal Way
29-Oct-2015
The research analyzes the general difficulties linked with agricultural lands, mostly surrounded with three major issues: large number of unregistered lands; the state as large owner of lands; and the limited right of foreigners to purchase land. The research discusses about the ways of overcoming these issues and gives appropriate recommendations.
