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NEWS
GEORGIA TODAY
SEPTEMBER 22 - 25, 2017
Georgia Participates in China Int’l Fair for Investment & Trade Georgian Foreign Minister Attends Global Business Forum Organized by Bloomberg
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ithin the framework of his visit to New York, the Georgian Vice Premier, Foreign Minister Mikheil Janelidze, attended a global business forum organized by Bloomberg. The high-level meeting was opened by Bloomberg Founder and President, Michael Bloomberg, former US President Bill Clinton, President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron and Alibaba Founder Jack Ma. At the meeting, Janelidze had the opportunity to exchange views with world leaders and the heads of the large business companies, including Bill Clin-
ton, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the Bloomberg Founder himself. Underlining the importance of business-government co-operation in overcoming global challenges, the latter thanked the Georgian Vice Premier for his participation in the event. On the sidelines of the event, Janelidze also met with the Chief Executive Officer of MasterCard Company, Ajay Banga, who expressed his interest in Georgia’s business environment and in identifying priority areas for co-operation. EU High Representative Federica Mogherini, PM Trudeau and representatives of international companies took part in thematic panels and spoke before attendees at the event.
BY NINO GUGUNISHVILI
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rom September 18 to 21, Georgia participated in the largest International Fair for Investment and Trade in Xiamen, China, with Guest of Honor status. Led by Giorgi Gakharia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and Mariana Morgoshia, Director of the Produce in Georgia Agency, the International Fair for Investment and Trade presented Georgian State organi-
zations involved in carrying out governmental programs alongside the stands of investors, exporters and winemaking companies from Georgia. Georgian Winery 'Khareba' also participated in the event, enabling the company to establish closer business relations and enhance cooperation with the largest international companies. “With the participation in the world’s largest fair for investment and trade, we tried to make the first, solid step towards integrating the Georgian economy and Georgian businesses with the Chinese economy and Chinese companies. The
free trade regime gives us the possibility to maximize the use of those benefits directly,” Gakharia said. Georgia had honorary guest status at this year’s fair, with a special exhibition space provided and 120 Georgian companies represented. “Such exhibitions assist our entrepreneurs to establish contacts and start advertising their produce quickly,” Gakharia said, noting that Georgia had the largest stand at the fair, with a vast array of Georgian companies representing everything from agriculture to new technologies.
Georgian Parliament Approves Irakli Mekvabishvili as New Auditor General BY THEA MORRISON
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he Parliament of Georgia has supported the candidacy of Irakli Mekvabishvili to the post of Auditor General with 80 votes in a 150-seat legislative body. Mekvabishvili’s candidacy was named by the Parliament Speaker of Georgia, Irakli Kobakhidze, on September 8. Kobakhidze stated that Mekvabishvili is a highly qualified financier and for several years was a senior banker of the EBRD. “Irakli Mekvabishvili meets all the requirements necessary for the post of Auditor General,” he stated. “The Auditor General should have such qualities as high qualification,
impartiality, honesty, and we think that Irakli Mekvabishvili has them all,” he added. Mekvabishvili will hold the chief Auditor’s position for a term of five years, replacing Lasha Tordia, who was appointed in 2012 and whose term in office expired in July. After being elected, the new Auditor General stated that the State Audit Office (SAO) will not be a punitive agency, adding its main function will be prevention. “This will not be a punitive structure, but if we reveal any violations, then an instant, strict response will be given and adequate assessments made,” he said. Mekvabishvili said that particular attention will be paid to the direction of technological equipping of the agency,
Photo source: RFE/RL
adding preventive measures require serious material-technical base and high quality equipment. “For this purpose, we will use the best technical support we receive from our friendly donor countries,” he added, underlining that the relationship of the SAO with Parliament will
also be intensified. “We will spend time working with Parliament, because parliamentary control should be strengthened on recommendations made by the Audit Office,” he said. Mekvabishvili does not exclude that he will launch a reorganization in the
agency, though “all qualified employees will continue working as usual”. "The law gives me the authority to carry out reorganization. The Auditor General has the right to make any personnel changes, even regarding Deputies,” he stressed. The SAO is the supreme audit institution responsible for performing audits. The general activities of the SAO are: promoting efficient and effective public spending, protection of national wealth and the property of state of autonomous republics and local (municipal) entities, and improvement of management of public finances. The SAO also conducts financial monitoring of political parties within the competencies defined in The Organic Law of Georgia on Election Code of Georgia and Political Union of Citizens.