🎄 New Year's fairs and festivals in Tbilisi.
December is upon us, which means Christmas, New Year and other holidays are coming soon! You don't have a festive winter mood? We tell you where in the first half of December, you will find both it and a variety of gifts and holiday attributes. Mark it in your diaries.
🎅 IWAG Winter Fair
The annual charity Winter Fair will be held at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel. At the fair, you will be able to meet a large selection of goods from all over the world, presented by embassies of different countries.
In addition, this will be accompanied by a large food court with cuisines of the world and a choir singing Christmas songs.
🗓 December 3, from 10:00 to 18:00
⛄️ New Year's Fair in Dedaena Park
A pre-New Year fair will be held in Dedaena Park, in which more than 100 entrepreneurs from all over the country will take part.
At the fair, you can have fun and buy local products as a gift or for the New Year's table.
🗓 December 4 from 13:00 to 19:00
🤶 New Year Chocolate Festival
At the festival in the Tbilisi Botanical Garden, you will meet New Year characters, DIY gift workshops and much more!
In addition, the festival will host a fair, which will present a variety of chocolate products, hot chocolate and drinks.
🗓 3 and 4 December from 13:00 to 20:00
🎁 New Year's Book Festival at Expo Georgia
The festival combines the New Year's Book Festival and the Children's Book Festival.
New Year's Book Festival includes a book fair and New Year's gifts, as well as children's events on the main stage of the festival!
🗓 December 16-18
🔽 Do you know about other similar events or festivals? Write in the comments.
❗️We will make a separate selection about Batumi.
December is upon us, which means Christmas, New Year and other holidays are coming soon! You don't have a festive winter mood? We tell you where in the first half of December, you will find both it and a variety of gifts and holiday attributes. Mark it in your diaries.
🎅 IWAG Winter Fair
The annual charity Winter Fair will be held at the prestigious Sheraton Hotel. At the fair, you will be able to meet a large selection of goods from all over the world, presented by embassies of different countries.
In addition, this will be accompanied by a large food court with cuisines of the world and a choir singing Christmas songs.
🗓 December 3, from 10:00 to 18:00
⛄️ New Year's Fair in Dedaena Park
A pre-New Year fair will be held in Dedaena Park, in which more than 100 entrepreneurs from all over the country will take part.
At the fair, you can have fun and buy local products as a gift or for the New Year's table.
🗓 December 4 from 13:00 to 19:00
🤶 New Year Chocolate Festival
At the festival in the Tbilisi Botanical Garden, you will meet New Year characters, DIY gift workshops and much more!
In addition, the festival will host a fair, which will present a variety of chocolate products, hot chocolate and drinks.
🗓 3 and 4 December from 13:00 to 20:00
🎁 New Year's Book Festival at Expo Georgia
The festival combines the New Year's Book Festival and the Children's Book Festival.
New Year's Book Festival includes a book fair and New Year's gifts, as well as children's events on the main stage of the festival!
🗓 December 16-18
🔽 Do you know about other similar events or festivals? Write in the comments.
❗️We will make a separate selection about Batumi.
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📈🇬🇪💰Tourism revenue in 2022 is 183% more than the previous pandemic 2021 and exceeded the pre-Covid 2019.
By the end of this year, Georgia's tourism income will exceed $3 billion. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic. These figures were announced by the Deputy Minister of Economy of Georgia (and the former head of the national tourism agency) Mariam Kvrivishvili at a meeting of the executive committee of the UN World Tourism Organization. She noted that Georgia has managed to fully restore the profit margins in the tourism sector that existed before the pandemic. “This indicator directly affects the creation of new jobs and the improvement of the well-being of local residents,” stated Kvrivishvili.
ℹ️ Between January and October 2022, more than 4.3 million tourist trips were made to Georgia. Most often, foreign citizens come to Georgia from Russia, Turkey and Armenia, and the flow of tourists from the countries of the Persian Gulf has also noticeably increased.
By the end of this year, Georgia's tourism income will exceed $3 billion. This was reported by the press service of the Ministry of Economy of the Republic. These figures were announced by the Deputy Minister of Economy of Georgia (and the former head of the national tourism agency) Mariam Kvrivishvili at a meeting of the executive committee of the UN World Tourism Organization. She noted that Georgia has managed to fully restore the profit margins in the tourism sector that existed before the pandemic. “This indicator directly affects the creation of new jobs and the improvement of the well-being of local residents,” stated Kvrivishvili.
ℹ️ Between January and October 2022, more than 4.3 million tourist trips were made to Georgia. Most often, foreign citizens come to Georgia from Russia, Turkey and Armenia, and the flow of tourists from the countries of the Persian Gulf has also noticeably increased.
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💃🕺In the summer of 2023, Georgia will host world-class artists and musicians.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke about this at a government meeting. According to him, the performances will take place at Adjarian Black Sea Arena, Tbilisi and Batumi stadiums. The Prime Minister has not yet announced the names of those with whom negotiations are underway, but announced that 70 million lari ($25.6 million) have been allocated for this.
Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili spoke about this at a government meeting. According to him, the performances will take place at Adjarian Black Sea Arena, Tbilisi and Batumi stadiums. The Prime Minister has not yet announced the names of those with whom negotiations are underway, but announced that 70 million lari ($25.6 million) have been allocated for this.
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🇹🇷🛍➡️🇬🇪 Interest in Turkish online stores has grown in Georgia: they are closer than the US and China, the assortment is quite large, and the prices are competitive and often even lower.
According to the data of the Georgian Revenue Service, for 10 months of 2022, the number of parcels worth up to 300 GEL (this is the duty-free threshold for parcels, above 300 GEL you need to pay an 18% tax) issued from Turkey increased by almost 5 times than in the whole of 2021. Their total cost, at the same time, increased by 3.6 times. In terms of the number of duty-free orders in 2022, Turkey ranked first and significantly outperformed China and the United States in this category. According to Camex Business Development Director Gigi Seturidze, the Turkish route was offered to customers only in the spring of 2022, but in the first four months there was such an increase in volumes that, in the case of China, took two years.
🗣 Users interviewed by journalists compare a number of products:
📍 "baby wash gel, moisturizer, diaper cream and other hygiene products cost 180 GEL, while on Trendyol they are sold exactly two times cheaper, from 90 GEL"
📍 "one pack of tampons in Tbilisi costs 13.90 GEL, but three packs can be ordered from Turkey at the same price"
📍 “Large knitted jumpers on Turkish sites can be bought for 20-30 GEL. Whereas their average price in Georgian stores is 80 GEL”
📍 “In Turkey, 1 kilogram of pistachios cost 180 lira, so with delivery it turned out to be about 40 lari. And if you compare to the Carrefour network - one kilogram costs about 90 GEL”
ℹ️ For those who interested, I can recommend: Inex, Camex, Turketidan, Trendyol.
According to the data of the Georgian Revenue Service, for 10 months of 2022, the number of parcels worth up to 300 GEL (this is the duty-free threshold for parcels, above 300 GEL you need to pay an 18% tax) issued from Turkey increased by almost 5 times than in the whole of 2021. Their total cost, at the same time, increased by 3.6 times. In terms of the number of duty-free orders in 2022, Turkey ranked first and significantly outperformed China and the United States in this category. According to Camex Business Development Director Gigi Seturidze, the Turkish route was offered to customers only in the spring of 2022, but in the first four months there was such an increase in volumes that, in the case of China, took two years.
🗣 Users interviewed by journalists compare a number of products:
📍 "baby wash gel, moisturizer, diaper cream and other hygiene products cost 180 GEL, while on Trendyol they are sold exactly two times cheaper, from 90 GEL"
📍 "one pack of tampons in Tbilisi costs 13.90 GEL, but three packs can be ordered from Turkey at the same price"
📍 “Large knitted jumpers on Turkish sites can be bought for 20-30 GEL. Whereas their average price in Georgian stores is 80 GEL”
📍 “In Turkey, 1 kilogram of pistachios cost 180 lira, so with delivery it turned out to be about 40 lari. And if you compare to the Carrefour network - one kilogram costs about 90 GEL”
ℹ️ For those who interested, I can recommend: Inex, Camex, Turketidan, Trendyol.
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1️⃣5️⃣ - 🏦 The National Bank of Georgia has issued the 15th commercial bank license and the first digital bank license to Paysera Georgia.
According to the NBG, the first 4 months JSC CB "Paysera Georgia" will work in a test mode. The regulator emphasized that the new player will not have branches and service centers in Georgia and will work on the basis of a digital service model. Subsequently, two customer service centers will appear in Tbilisi, but most services will be provided remotely. The bank will support SEPA and SEPA Instant payments, which means that most transfers from Georgia to Europe will reach recipients in seconds. The bank will begin working in early 2023. Former Minister of Economy of Georgia Dmitry Kumsishvili became the General Director of JSC CB "Paysera Georgia".
ℹ️ The history of Paysera began in 2004 in Lithuania as a platform for collecting online payments. Over time, the portfolio of services has grown, and Paysera has grown into an international network of fintech companies, uniting companies in nine countries.
According to the NBG, the first 4 months JSC CB "Paysera Georgia" will work in a test mode. The regulator emphasized that the new player will not have branches and service centers in Georgia and will work on the basis of a digital service model. Subsequently, two customer service centers will appear in Tbilisi, but most services will be provided remotely. The bank will support SEPA and SEPA Instant payments, which means that most transfers from Georgia to Europe will reach recipients in seconds. The bank will begin working in early 2023. Former Minister of Economy of Georgia Dmitry Kumsishvili became the General Director of JSC CB "Paysera Georgia".
ℹ️ The history of Paysera began in 2004 in Lithuania as a platform for collecting online payments. Over time, the portfolio of services has grown, and Paysera has grown into an international network of fintech companies, uniting companies in nine countries.
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🇬🇧🇬🇪 British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak called on Russia to withdraw recognition of the independence of the Georgian regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia, as well as to ensure unhindered access to humanitarian aid there.
That's how he responded to a congratulatory letter from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Sunak emphasized that “the United Kingdom stands by Georgia in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within internationally recognized borders”.
That's how he responded to a congratulatory letter from Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili. Sunak emphasized that “the United Kingdom stands by Georgia in the face of ongoing Russian aggression. We firmly support the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Georgia within internationally recognized borders”.
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🏳️🌈 An event that was hard to imagine happened in Georgia: one of the symbols of the country, the communication tower on Mtatsminda, lit up in rainbow colors.
The mayor's office of the capital explained this by participation in the project "Covenant of Mayors - Eastern Partnership", which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. This project implements the programs of ecology, energy efficiency and observance of human rights.
The mayor's office of the capital explained this by participation in the project "Covenant of Mayors - Eastern Partnership", which is celebrating its 10th anniversary. This project implements the programs of ecology, energy efficiency and observance of human rights.
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🔌🚫💡The largest hydroelectric power plant in the Caucasus, Inguri, may soon generate only a minimal amount of electricity.
This was stated by the general director of the HPP Levan Mebonia. According to him, as soon as the water level in the reservoir drops below 413 m (which is very likely), “water will no longer enter the tunnel and production will be reduced by five times.” This means that "Abkhazia will be forced to introduce a strict schedule for the supply of electricity if it cannot agree with Moscow on the supply of electricity from Russia." Both the drought and the growing consumption of electricity in Abkhazia influences the lowering of the water level.
The HPP is of systemic importance for the Georgian energy sector and vital for the population of Abkhazia. “Of the volume of electricity currently being generated, 80% of the electricity is taken by the Abkhazian side, and the remaining 20% by Georgia,” the plant's general director emphasized.
📵 Cryptominers are also one of the problems: over the past five years, they have generated about $ 1 billion from electricity taken from Georgia. At the same time, they did not pay anything for electricity in Abkhazia.
This was stated by the general director of the HPP Levan Mebonia. According to him, as soon as the water level in the reservoir drops below 413 m (which is very likely), “water will no longer enter the tunnel and production will be reduced by five times.” This means that "Abkhazia will be forced to introduce a strict schedule for the supply of electricity if it cannot agree with Moscow on the supply of electricity from Russia." Both the drought and the growing consumption of electricity in Abkhazia influences the lowering of the water level.
The HPP is of systemic importance for the Georgian energy sector and vital for the population of Abkhazia. “Of the volume of electricity currently being generated, 80% of the electricity is taken by the Abkhazian side, and the remaining 20% by Georgia,” the plant's general director emphasized.
📵 Cryptominers are also one of the problems: over the past five years, they have generated about $ 1 billion from electricity taken from Georgia. At the same time, they did not pay anything for electricity in Abkhazia.
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🇬🇪 The Georgian Orthodox Church has its own flag.
Attentive readers have noticed that on the photographs of the celebration of Giorgoba in Tbilisi, there is an unusual flag on the temple building. It resembles the state banner, but it also has differences. Indeed, this is the flag of the Georgian church. On a white cloth there is a red cross with a blue border (the cross of St. Nino). Often it is used in the form of banners, i.e. with a flag attached to a horizontal crossbar.
Attentive readers have noticed that on the photographs of the celebration of Giorgoba in Tbilisi, there is an unusual flag on the temple building. It resembles the state banner, but it also has differences. Indeed, this is the flag of the Georgian church. On a white cloth there is a red cross with a blue border (the cross of St. Nino). Often it is used in the form of banners, i.e. with a flag attached to a horizontal crossbar.
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📊🏦 Georgia has published a rating of banks.
The total net profit of the Georgian banking sector for the first 9 months of 2022 amounted to 1.5 billion lari. Moreover, most of this amount (1.4 billion lari) came from the income of only two commercial banks - TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia. The total assets of all 15 Georgian commercial banks reached the amount of 68 billion lari (and also, TBC and BoG have the overwhelming leadership).
📌 Top 8 Georgian banks in terms of assets:
TBC Bank: $26 billion
Bank of Georgia: $25 billion
Liberty Bank: $3.5 billion
Basis Bank: $2.9 billion
Credo Bank: 2 billion
Procredit Bank: 1.7 billion
Terabank: $1.4 billion
Cartu Bank: 1.4 billion
ℹ️ VTB Bank stopped its work in 2022 due to international sanctions, and its entire client base was exported to the Basis Bank and Liberty Bank.
The total net profit of the Georgian banking sector for the first 9 months of 2022 amounted to 1.5 billion lari. Moreover, most of this amount (1.4 billion lari) came from the income of only two commercial banks - TBC Bank and Bank of Georgia. The total assets of all 15 Georgian commercial banks reached the amount of 68 billion lari (and also, TBC and BoG have the overwhelming leadership).
📌 Top 8 Georgian banks in terms of assets:
TBC Bank: $26 billion
Bank of Georgia: $25 billion
Liberty Bank: $3.5 billion
Basis Bank: $2.9 billion
Credo Bank: 2 billion
Procredit Bank: 1.7 billion
Terabank: $1.4 billion
Cartu Bank: 1.4 billion
ℹ️ VTB Bank stopped its work in 2022 due to international sanctions, and its entire client base was exported to the Basis Bank and Liberty Bank.
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🎄 Tbilisi and Batumi are getting ready to celebrate the New Year.
📍Various events in the capital will be held for 22 days, and 5 million lari ($1.8 million) have been allocated for their implementation. From 23.12 to 13.01 holiday fairs, children's concerts and performances, theatrical performances and other recreational activities for all ages will be held. At the moment, it is known for sure that all central streets and avenues will be decorated, and on December 31 a festive gala concert will take place.
📍In Batumi, New Year's events will begin from 25.12 and will last until 07.01. The main place for New Year's entertainment will be Europe Square. 374 thousand lari ($130 thousand) were allocated for its decoration.
ℹ️ The schedule of events will appear in December. As soon as there is official information, I will immediately publish it.
📍Various events in the capital will be held for 22 days, and 5 million lari ($1.8 million) have been allocated for their implementation. From 23.12 to 13.01 holiday fairs, children's concerts and performances, theatrical performances and other recreational activities for all ages will be held. At the moment, it is known for sure that all central streets and avenues will be decorated, and on December 31 a festive gala concert will take place.
📍In Batumi, New Year's events will begin from 25.12 and will last until 07.01. The main place for New Year's entertainment will be Europe Square. 374 thousand lari ($130 thousand) were allocated for its decoration.
ℹ️ The schedule of events will appear in December. As soon as there is official information, I will immediately publish it.
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🕊 "Tbilisi is a city of peace": this phrase has been one of the main topics in Georgian social networks for two days now.
That's the slogan for the New Year holidays that government decided to write in the center of the capital, on Freedom Square. A number of opposition politicians and citizens said that during the war in Ukraine, such a message in Georgia is not appropriate and the text of solidarity would have looked much better. For the second night in a row, several dozen people come out to protest.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said that the New Year's slogan contained no political message and peace is what everyone should strive for. And the actions of some politicians and the media are nothing but speculation and provocation. The leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, added sarcastically: "Then I suggest that we announce a one-year moratorium, for example, on the peace toast in Georgia - how can you drink a peace toast when there is a war in Ukraine?".
That's the slogan for the New Year holidays that government decided to write in the center of the capital, on Freedom Square. A number of opposition politicians and citizens said that during the war in Ukraine, such a message in Georgia is not appropriate and the text of solidarity would have looked much better. For the second night in a row, several dozen people come out to protest.
Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze said that the New Year's slogan contained no political message and peace is what everyone should strive for. And the actions of some politicians and the media are nothing but speculation and provocation. The leader of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Irakli Kobakhidze, added sarcastically: "Then I suggest that we announce a one-year moratorium, for example, on the peace toast in Georgia - how can you drink a peace toast when there is a war in Ukraine?".
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👮🏻♂️Several officials have been detained in Georgia for appropriating state lands.
The investigation established that in the Imereti region, the defendants, using false documents, registered 11 state land plots with a total area of 17,650 sq.m. Two of the criminals are former public officials, and one is active public official. The illegally appropriated land plots have been seized.
❗️The defendants face 4 to 7 years in prison.
The investigation established that in the Imereti region, the defendants, using false documents, registered 11 state land plots with a total area of 17,650 sq.m. Two of the criminals are former public officials, and one is active public official. The illegally appropriated land plots have been seized.
❗️The defendants face 4 to 7 years in prison.
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🎄The main Christmas tree of Georgia near the Parliament building in Tbilisi and New Year's illumination in the capital will be turned on on December 9th.
On the video you can see how the streets were decorated last year. New illumination will not be purchased this year, and the Christmas tree will also remain the same, but its lighting will be changed. From 23.12 to 13.01 there will be children's concerts and performances, theatrical performances and other entertainment events for all age groups.
New Year's Village will open in Tbilisi on December 23 and will be located only on Orbeliani Square. In Batumi, New Year's events will begin on 25.12 and will last until 07.01. The main place for New Year's entertainment will be Europe Square.
On the video you can see how the streets were decorated last year. New illumination will not be purchased this year, and the Christmas tree will also remain the same, but its lighting will be changed. From 23.12 to 13.01 there will be children's concerts and performances, theatrical performances and other entertainment events for all age groups.
New Year's Village will open in Tbilisi on December 23 and will be located only on Orbeliani Square. In Batumi, New Year's events will begin on 25.12 and will last until 07.01. The main place for New Year's entertainment will be Europe Square.
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🏦💻 TBC Bank has begun cooperation with the international company Binance, the world's leading provider of blockchain systems and cryptocurrency infrastructure.
From 2023, anyone will be able to buy and sell cryptocurrency on the Binance platform using TBC Bank's payment channels. According to the memorandum, both companies are interested in the development of virtual asset markets in Georgia and long-term and sustainable cooperation. As a partner of Binance, TBC provides crypto-to-local currency conversion accounts so that local users can buy and sell cryptocurrencies on the Binance Georgia platform using GEL. In addition, TBC and Binance are considering issuing a Binance card. Binance, for its part, is considering providing a crypto broker API to TBC Bank and its subsidiaries to allow TBC users to access cryptocurrency investment platforms.
❗️During his visit to Georgia and after meeting with the Prime Minister, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated that the company will definitely open a representative office in the country and significantly increase the number of team members in the country.
From 2023, anyone will be able to buy and sell cryptocurrency on the Binance platform using TBC Bank's payment channels. According to the memorandum, both companies are interested in the development of virtual asset markets in Georgia and long-term and sustainable cooperation. As a partner of Binance, TBC provides crypto-to-local currency conversion accounts so that local users can buy and sell cryptocurrencies on the Binance Georgia platform using GEL. In addition, TBC and Binance are considering issuing a Binance card. Binance, for its part, is considering providing a crypto broker API to TBC Bank and its subsidiaries to allow TBC users to access cryptocurrency investment platforms.
❗️During his visit to Georgia and after meeting with the Prime Minister, Binance founder Changpeng Zhao stated that the company will definitely open a representative office in the country and significantly increase the number of team members in the country.
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🤵👰🏻♀️ The level of marriages among minors in Georgia reaches 14%.
This statement was made by the public defender Nino Lomdzharia.
"Despite the law prohibiting marriage to a person under 18 years of age, which has had a positive effect on reducing such cases, unregistered marriage or cohabitation with minors often takes place, which in most cases is a crime" the ombudsman said.
❗️According to her, to prevent such cases, it is necessary to take comprehensive measures aimed at expanding the educational, social and economic opportunities of young people.
This statement was made by the public defender Nino Lomdzharia.
"Despite the law prohibiting marriage to a person under 18 years of age, which has had a positive effect on reducing such cases, unregistered marriage or cohabitation with minors often takes place, which in most cases is a crime" the ombudsman said.
❗️According to her, to prevent such cases, it is necessary to take comprehensive measures aimed at expanding the educational, social and economic opportunities of young people.
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👁👁 Mascarons of Tbilisi.
Walking around the capital, you may not immediately notice that the city is watching us. And not with just one pair of eyes. Meet mascarons. They are different: this is a type of sculptural decoration of a building in the shape of a human or animal head from the front. Mascarons, unlike the intimidating gargoyles, can also wear a comic, neutral, or romantic guise. Usually, a mascaron is placed in a conspicuous place: in the arch lock, above a window or doorway.
❓Did you notice them in Tbilisi?
Walking around the capital, you may not immediately notice that the city is watching us. And not with just one pair of eyes. Meet mascarons. They are different: this is a type of sculptural decoration of a building in the shape of a human or animal head from the front. Mascarons, unlike the intimidating gargoyles, can also wear a comic, neutral, or romantic guise. Usually, a mascaron is placed in a conspicuous place: in the arch lock, above a window or doorway.
❓Did you notice them in Tbilisi?
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