🇬🇪🇪🇺 Georgia, in terms of fulfilling the technical criteria for rapprochement with the European Union, is ahead of Moldova and Ukraine.

This was announced by the editor of the European bureau of Radio Liberty Rikard Jozwiak, who got acquainted with the draft of the new report of the European Commission. It is scheduled to be published in January. The report will evaluate the conformity of the legislation of Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia with EU legislation in 32 areas, which the EU calls “chapters”. Compliance of the applicant country with these "chapters" is necessary to start negotiations on EU membership. Speaking about the evaluation report, Jozwiak noted that "it is clear that Georgia will receive the best evaluation, which is the result of many years of work by pro-European and somewhat reform-oriented governments". According to him, Georgia is assessed as "medium prepared", including in the areas of economy and finance. However, the country lags behind in the areas of law, intellectual property and agriculture.

🏦 The digital lari will be presented in the first half of 2023.

This statement was made by the National Bank of Georgia. According to NBG Vice President Papuna Lezhava, based on the final document, which is currently being developed, all potential partners will have the opportunity to formulate their final proposals for the Georgian version of CBDC (Central Bank Digital Currency) - the digital currency of the central bank, which will have the status of legal tender.
“We have chosen several concrete examples in what form the “digital lari” will be tested. At the first stage, it will be a rather limited pilot version. On its basis, the technical characteristics of the "digital lari" will be evaluated. After that, the question of whether to continue this project or not will be decided. In the first half of 2023, we will publish the document and soon after that, together with the chosen partner, we will discuss how much time it will take to implement the project.”

❗️Vakhtang Kikabidze died.

"Buba", as everyone called him in Georgia.
The actor died at the age of 84. In recent years he has been seriously ill.

🇬🇪🛫🇨🇳 After a three-year break, China Southern Airlines are returning to the Georgian aviation market.

According to the company, during winter flights from Urumqi to Tbilisi will be carried out once a week, and during summer they will fly 3 times a week.
ℹ️ In 2019, China Southern Airlines operated 163 flights to Tbilisi and served 38,725 passengers.
❗️Experts consider the Chinese market to be one of the most promising, along with Turkey and the United States in 2023, and predict an increase in tourist flow from there by 3-4 times.

🇬🇪🇺🇦 Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili expressed condolences to the Ukrainian people after the tragedy in the Dnipro.

🇦🇿🛫🇬🇪 The Azerbaijani airline Buta Airwais is starting flights from Baku to Batumi.

Flights will be carried out from June 11 on an EMBRAER 190 aircraft and will be operated every Friday and Sunday.
🎫 Tickets cost 49-79 euros one way. They are already available on the airline's website.

🏘🛍 An outlet town will appear near Tbilisi, which will feature more than 120 brands and companies.

The Georgian Outlet and Resorts Group announces that the first project in the region will be launched soon, it's construction is underway in the area of ​​the Lilo economic zone. Most designs are local or ordered from Dubai. The outlet town will be located on an area of ​​10 hectares, and investments in it will amount to about $100 million. In total, Outlet Village will feature more than 120 brands, 22 of which have not previously worked on the Georgian market. The opening of the location is scheduled for September 2023.

🎿🚫 Local residents in Gudauri do not allow foreign ski instructors to work.

Several people have already approached me with the same messages that “their own” laws apply at the winter resort. They are intimidated by forbidding them to train skiers and snowboarders. Threats come to instructors from different countries, among them: Russians, Belarusians, Ukrainians and even Europeans (one of the applicants is an Austrian). Locals are forbidding them to work, threatening physical violence or equipment breakdown. According to eyewitnesses, the local police do not take any action and do not respond to allegations. I know from friends and acquaintances that the situation in Gudauri in recent years is really difficult. Conflicts with local residents are regular, reaching fights and tragic incidents.

💰⚠️ One of the largest Georgian enterprises, Rustavi Azot, has been sold.

100% of the shares of the largest chemical enterprise for the production of mineral fertilizers and industrial chemistry in the Transcaucasus from "E U Investments" was bought by Singapore's "Indorama Corporation". It acquired all 100% of the shares of the Georgian company. The cost and terms of the deal were not specified. Indorama Corporation is one of the largest strategic investors in Georgia. It intends to invest significant resources in the modernization, development and expansion of the enterprise.
ℹ️ According to the results of 10 months of 2022, nitrogen fertilizers took the fourth place in the ranking of the country's main export commodities. They accounted for 5.1% of the total, and the cost exceeded the amount of 207 million dollars. Exports of nitrogen fertilizers more than doubled in 2022.