BUSINESS WEEK
DISTRIBUTED FREE OF CHARGE
caucasus1
October 3, 2016 #163
October 3, 2016, Issue 163 - www.cbw.ge
NGO Correct PR Campaign, not Restrictions will Lower Smoking Level Pg. 7
Business Unusual Concept Hostel Fabrika Opens in Tbilisi
Bank TBC Banked moved to London Stock Exchange’s Premium Segment Pg. 10
Pg. 10
Competitive Capacity of Georgian Economy Grows
Real Estate Sales Surge
Georgia has occupied 59th position with 4.32 point among 138 countries in the 2016-20167 Global Competitiveness Rating published by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The country has improved positions by 7 places as compared to the 2015-2016 rating. According to the Global Competitiveness Rating, in Eurasian Region, major advancement was made by Georgia and Tajikistan. “Both countries have increased GDP by more than 2.5%. This is less than average indicator over the 10 years, but it is higher compared to other countries of Eurasia”, the report reads. Tajikistan ranks 77th in the rating. The country has advanced by 5 positions compared to the previous year. According to the Global Competitiveness Rating, Georgia’s major challenges for doing business consists in unqualified workforce, access to finances, inflation, inefficient state bureaucracy, insufficient supply of infrastructure. Pg. 4
White Elephants on the Silk Road
Georg i advan a has c the ra ed in ti 6 pos ng by itions
Pg. 7 Pg. 6
The ruler of Siam (that is the king of ancient Thailand) could make, when falling into a bad mood, a “royal present” to his courtier: he would give him a white elephant which would ruin the unfortunate official due to the necessity of feeding the animal. It was not possible of making the sacred animal do any work, while the albino elephant required a lot of food, since it had to be constantly well-fed with varied fodder. One can find many of such ”white elephants” when reviewing the economy of many countries. They are insanely expensive projects and infrastructure facilities that did not find any use: empty airports and railway stations, unused stadiums, or factories and plants that were abandoned due to absence of demand for their production. There are examples of this in any countries, especially in those where the role of the state in Pg. 9 the economy is too big.