Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Borjomi Waters Mark First Transnational Company Bearing Georgian �Passport� An unprecedented event was recently detected in the Georgian business sector. The Georgian Glass and Mineral Water Company along with two Ukrainian companies established a holding company, with which GG&MW . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Self-Proclaimed Abkhazian Government Hopeful of New Budget The Cabinet of the self-proclaimed Republic of Abkhazia has just approved the 2005 state budget. The budget draft, which will be sent to the separatist parliament for review and approval . . .  Society Mariam Jatchvadze Birds of Feather Flock Together: New High Class Neighborhood in Tbilisi President Edward Shevardnadze will be remember in new ways. By the year 2013, there will be a new neighborhood in town that will be inhabited by an interesting cross section . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Small Licensees Enter Energy Wholesale Market Small Georgian companies are back in the electric energy market. At the latest session of the Wholesale Market Executive Council, it was decided unanimously that Joint Stock Company Gorgota, Patara . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze State Energy Regulatory Committee Holds Firm to Decisions, Legally or Otherwise Pressure on “small licensees” still mounts Energy regulation state committee continues to apply pressure on energy distribution companies, especially the so-called “small licensees”. For now, the ERSC demands the execution of its previously passed decision, which . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Privatization Press Conferences The Ministry of Economic Development will hold its next auction on March 1, 2005. A week prior to the auction the ministry will arrange a presentation for the five facilities . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Reducing Wheat and Flour Smuggling – Recommendations According to the evaluations of the wheat production and bakery association Global Agro, over 35% of flour imported to Georgia is smuggled. The only way out of this situation, the . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Contraband Flour Hinders Realization of American and Georgian Wheat The wheat processing industry” in Georgia is in crisis – the reason of such conclusion are the results of the trade held on the grain and oil product exchange. This . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Economic Ministry Expects 2 Million at March 17 Bid The Economic Development Ministry is planning another auction on March 17. Just one week ago, the Ministry presented the properties to be auctioned. 65% of the auction revenue will go . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Financial Violations Discovered by Control Chamber The amount of financial violations discovered by the Control Chamber at the state structures equals several million GEL for the time being. At three organizations combined – Georgian Railways Ltd, . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Britons Acquire Bank in Georgia Foreign banks continue to enter the Georgian banking sector. This time large British investors have become interested in one of Georgia’s banks. . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Georgian-Iranian Business Perspectives A delegation of about 20 Iranian businessmen led by Iranian Vice-President Mohammad-Reza Aref has been in Georgia for several days already. On April 25, the Ambassador Hotel hosted a large . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Kyrgyzstan Banks Active on Abkhazian Soil 24 Saati (Hours) has already written about the illegal activities Russian commercial banks in Abkhazia, but now it has emerged that Kyrgyz commercial banks have also penetrated the separatist region. . . .  Politics Mariam Jatchvadze Quality Georgian Wines, Tackling Wine Falsification Next week a joint taskforce between the Georgian Ministry of Agriculture and the financial police will launch a series of joint raids at markets and supermarkets as part of a . . .  Economy Mariam Jatchvadze Criticism on the Licensing Law Draft Despite the fact that most of economic experts hailed draft law on Licensing and Permits, they also point to number of stipulations that “allow different interpretations.” Moreover, the experts say, . . .