Issue #1285

Issue no: 1285

• FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021 • PUBLISHED WEEKLY

FOCUS

ON EMBRACING TSALKA Local Action Group (LAG) and CENN working together to awaken the potential of Tsalka with EU financing

PAGE 8

PRICE: GEL 2.50

In this week’s issue...

PM Garibashvili: It’s Time to Unite POLITICS PAGE 3

US President Biden to be Tested as Russian Pipeline Resumes POLITICS PAGE 4

EU ENPARD Supported Project in Keda and Khulo Summarize Four Years of Success!

BUSINESS PAGE 6

On USAID’s Yes-Georgia Program: Supporting Women’s Empowerment BUSINESS PAGE 6

BTU: First Georgian University to Become a Member of the MIT Entrepreneurial Network BUSINESS PAGE 8

JSC Iberia Refreshments: Resilient Leadership throughout the Coronavirus Crisis

How Restaurants are Fighting Food Waste: Interview with Mama Terra

INTERVIEW BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

British International School of Tbilisi Announces Scholarship Programme 2021-22

T

he national leader in Georgia’s soft drink manufacturing industry since 2004, JSC Iberia Refreshments is engaged in bottling and selling carbonated soft drinks owned by the world's major beverage manufacturer PepsiCo, under the trademarks of Pepsi®, 7UP® and Mirinda®. JSC Iberia also owns exclusive sale and distribution rights for PepsiCo’s non-carbonated soft drink brands: Lipton Ice Tea and Fruktovy Sad. But what many do not yet know is that the firm produces its own top-notch non-alcoholic beverages, such as Georgian Lemonade and Max Power Energy Drink.

JSC Iberia Refreshments is part of Revery Group, an international investment firm that operates in Food & Beverages, Venture Capital and Public Markets. Revery’s mission is focused on sustainable long-term value creation by way of optimizing businesses and brands to fulfill their true potential.

To understand how the company has dealt with the current crisis, GEORGIA TODAY spoke with Raikhan Aubakirova, Market lead of Iberia Refreshments PepsiCo bottler in Georgia.

Continued on page 5

SOCIETY PAGE 9

SOCIETY PAGE 10 CULTURE PAGE 11 Prepared for Georgia Today Business by

Markets As of 22ͲFebͲ2021

STOCKS

Price

w/w

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BONDS

Price

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m/m

Bank of Georgia (BGEO LN)

GBP 10.76

Ͳ6,3%

Ͳ9,4%

GEOROG 04/21

100.36 (YTM 4.55%)

Ͳ0,3%

Ͳ0,2%

Georgia Capital (CGEO LN)

GBP 5.15

Ͳ2,1%

Ͳ1,9%

GEORG 04/21

100.63 (YTM 2.11%)

Ͳ0,1%

Ͳ0,5%

TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN)

GBP 11.14

Ͳ11,2%

Ͳ10,9%

COMMODITIES Crude Oil, Brent (US$/bbl) Gold Spot (US$/OZ)

GRAIL 07/22

107.13 (YTM 2.47%)

Ͳ0,0%

+0,6%

GEBGG 07/23

106.41 (YTM 3.23%)

+0,6%

+0,8%

CURRENCIES

Price

w/w

m/m

Price

w/w

m/m

65,24

+3,1%

+17,7%

GEL / USD

3,3079

+0,5%

+0,3%

1 809,67

Ͳ0,5%

Ͳ2,5%

GEL / EUR

4,0213

+0,7%

+0,1%

GEL / GBP

4,6511

+1,7%

INDICES

Price

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GEL / CHF

3,6925

Ͳ0,2%

Ͳ1,0%

FTSE 100

6 612,24

Ͳ2,1%

Ͳ1,2%

GEL / RUB

0,0445

Ͳ0,9%

+1,6%

+3,0%

FTSE 250

20 981,09

Ͳ2,0%

+1,9%

GEL / TRY

0,4712

Ͳ0,3%

+5,9%

DAX

13 950,04

Ͳ1,1%

+0,5%

GEL / AZN

1,9458

DOW JONES

31 521,69

+0,2%

+1,7%

GEL / AMD

0,0063

Ͳ

Ͳ1,6%

NASDAQ

13 533,05

Ͳ4,0%

Ͳ0,1%

GEL / UAH

0,1186

+0,1%

+1,2%

166,12

Ͳ3,0%

+1,1%

EUR / USD

0,8225

Ͳ0,2%

+0,1%

MSCI EM EE

+0,5%

+0,2%

Ͳ2,8%

+0,3%

Ͳ1,1%

Ͳ2,7%

SP 500

3 876,50

Ͳ1,5%

+0,9%

CHF / USD

0,8961

+0,7%

+1,2%

MSCI FM

2 560,71

Ͳ0,8%

Ͳ1,0%

RUB / USD

74,3075

+1,3%

Ͳ1,3%

GT Index (GEL)

1 582,68

Ͳ

Ͳ

TRY / USD

7,0189

+0,8%

Ͳ5,4%

GT Index (USD)

1 208,13

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Ͳ

AZN / USD

1,6988

Ͳ

Ͳ0,2%

MSCI EM

1 397,67

GBP / USD

0,7110

2

NEWS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

US Embassy Responds to Vakho Sanaia Case

More COVID Restrictions Lifted: See the Full List

BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

T

he US Embassy in Georgia has responded via Facebook to the recent attack on Formula TV host, journalist Vakho Sanaia, and a relative of his wife, denouncing violence against journalists and urging the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the Sanaia case.

“The US Embassy condemns the attack committed against journalist Vakho Sanaia and his family.

Attacks against journalists are unacceptable and cannot be tolerated. We urge the authorities to complete a full investigation into this case, as well as other outstanding cases of violence against journalists”, reads the post.

Law enforcers on Thursday arrested three people on charges of assaulting formula TV host Vakho Sanaia and a relative of his wife.

The accused, who were allegedly drunk at the time of the assault, were charged with violence committed by a group against two or more individuals, under Article 126 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

dditional coronavirus-related restrictions have been eased in Georgia.

The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Garibashvili, announced the changes at a special briefing held after today’s meeting of the Interagency Coordination Council.

Here is a complete list of restrictions that have been eased on the decision of the government: • Hotels at ski resorts will be opened from February 25, in full compliance with the existing epidemiological standards and regulations; • The ropeways at the mountain resorts will start operation from March 8, also in full compliance with epidemiological standards and regulations; • Intercity transport (trains and minibuses) will be opened from February 25; • Restaurants will resume full service from March 1 in Batumi, except for weekends, and from March 8 in the rest of Georgia; • Conferences and trainings will be resumed in accordance with the relevant protocol from March 1; • Gyms will resume operation from March 15 in accordance with the regulations; • Private and public kindergartens will be opened from March 1; • Universities and vocational schools will be able to resume clinical, practical, and laboratory activities, and conduct exams in auditoriums from March 1, while studies in the auditoriums will resume from March 15;

• Museums and libraries will resume operations from March 1; • Theaters, sports clubs, and professional ensembles will be able to resume rehearsals from March 15, and fully resume activities (theatrical performances, sports competitions in the presence of spectators) from April 1; • Shopping malls and fairs, including on weekends, will resume operations from March 8.

The restriction on movement from 9 PM to 5 AM remains in force.

Restaurants will have to follow the established recommendations and standards indoors, which will be strictly controlled by the relevant agencies.

In addition, the Coordination Council decided to further ease the regulations related to the admission of visitors to the country.

In particular, from March 1, citizens of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Russia and Belarus will be able to enter Georgia through the air border on the basis of a negative PCR test result.

Citizens of several other countries are already allowed to enter Georgia on the basis of the negative PCR test result, including those of Turkey, the European Union, Israel, Switzerland, the United States, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Bahrain.

Citizens of all other countries are allowed to enter Georgia solely on the condition of compulsory self-isolation.

“At this stage, we still maintain the current regime on the land borders,” PM Garibashvili said.

Georgia recorded 362 new coronavirus cases, 470 recoveries and 12 deaths on Thursday.

The daily test-positivity rate stands at 2.33 %, and 2.36% over the past week.

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at PM Garibashvili: It’s Time to Unite the International Criminal Court (ICC) Trust Fund for Victims at the Int’l Criminal Court Approves Victim Assistance Program in Georgia.

The Trust Fund for Victims (TFV) at the International Criminal Court (ICC) has approved a Victim Assistance program in Georgia. TFV will soon issue a solicitation for the provision of the assistance program to conduct psychological rehabilitation, physical rehabilitation, and material support for the victims of the armed conflict of 2008, the August War, in Georgia, through TFV funding.

Within this context, the ICC/TFV has announced a call on Expressions of Interest (EOI) from qualified and interested organizations. Through this announcement, TFV calls on competent and qualified organizations to express their interest.

The assistance services requested, modalities, and the minimum qualification criteria are outlined here: https:// www.icc-cpi.int/get-involved/Pages/expressions-of-interest. aspx Reference Number 128881 And here: https://www.ungm.org/Public/Notice/121344 Interested organizations should submit their Expression of Interest, as well as all required documents, by e-mail, to Tender.7@icc-cpi.int, by 1st March, 2021.

F

ollowing the arrest of UNM Chairman Nika Melia, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili calls on the opposition to open a dialogue.

He pointed out that “Now is not the time for division, but for unification,” adding that the country has no time to lose.

“Georgia is facing challenges of the utmost importance today. The pandemic has further complicated the already difficult economic and social situation of our country and our people. We are also facing significant geopolitical challenges, as well as foreign policy goals.

“We must all unite around these goals and challenges, regardless of our political beliefs and views.

“One hundred years after the loss of the independence of the First Republic of Georgia and the Sovietization of Georgia, we must once again remember that the state and its independence are the greatest achievements for every one of us. Our statehood is also a necessary condition for Georgia’s Western integration. Therefore, protecting the state and its laws is a duty and a responsibility shared by each and every one of us.

“The Ministry of Internal Affairs enforced a law, which was a necessary condition for the reduction of radicalism in politics and the establishment of fair relations.

“The people’s reaction to the enforcement of the law has confirmed that the rule of law is the main priority for the Georgian public. However, we are not counting the number of people gathered for the demonstration. Every citizen of our country is precious to us.

“Today, now that the law has been enforced and the state has taken its due place, I would like to call on all political forces who hold the country dear to open a real and earnest dialog and to talk not about what divides us, but about what must unite us.

“Against the backdrop of the challenges facing the country, it is time for dialogue, not confrontation. I propose that all reasonable opposition forces enter Parliament, so that we may use the country’s legislature as the main platform for discussion. As I mentioned yesterday, we are ready for real dialog at any time and in any format.

“Together, we must ensure the consolidation of our statehood and independence, the further strengthening of the democratic system, the overcoming of social and economic problems, and Georgia’s integration into the European Union and NATO. “Our country has no time to lose.

“Today is not the time for division – it is the time for unification.

“May God be our protector!,” the newly appointed PM stated.

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

3

UNM Chairman Melia Arrested at Party Office, Parties & Int’l Partners React

BY TEAM GT

A

special task force arrested the opposition leader, Chairman of the United National Movement party Nika Melia, at the party office on Tuesday. Before the arrest, law enforcers sprayed tear gas into the room.

“The decision of Tbilisi City Court Judge Nino Chakhnashvili, announced on February 17, to use the norm of detention against Nikanor Melia, has been executed by the Ministry of Internal Affairs: Nikanor Melia has been detained,” the Ministry of Internal Affairs announced after Melia’s removal to a State Penitentiary Facility.

“The law enforcers warned the citizens gathered in front and inside the party office not to obstruct the police in the execution of the court decision, and gave them reasonable time to disperse,” the MIA statement reads. “Despite numerous warnings, the gathered demonstrators chose not to obey the lawful request of the police and offered resistance. Thus, the police applied coercive measures and special means provided by law to enforce their official duties entrusted to the Ministry of Internal Affairs by the court.”

A day prior, new Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated that “the law must be enforced.”

“Melia is a criminal because the court found him so in the Cartu Bank case.

This criminal was declared Chairman of the party, and yet we are told that he is guilty of an assault on parliament and an attempt to overthrow the government.

But they keep telling us not to touch him.

When did a political party become a haven for such criminals? Neither will a political party nor the holding of any

important position provide be a haven for criminals. The answer is simple: the law must be obeyed,” Garibashvili said.

City Court sentenced Melia to imprisonment on February 17. He is accused of “leading and participating in group violence” during the June 20-21, 2019 case of attempted intrusion into the parliament building during an anti-occupation protest rally.

Following the court ruling, last Thursday, former Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Gakharia resigned due to differences of opinion within the team on the issue, at which point the MIA temporarily postponed the execution of the court ruling.

Following Melia’s arrest, the opposition spoke of the need for early elections and organized a rally that drew hundreds of supporters to the Government Chancellery, then parliament building, on Tuesday afternoon. In parallel, and throughout the week, International partners have advocated for dialogue in light of the deepening political crisis.

“We regret that the call of the United States and other international partners for restraint and dialogue was ignored.

We are dismayed by the polarizing rhetoric from Georgia’s leadership at a time of crisis,” the US Embassy said on Tuesday. “Force and aggression are not the solution to resolving Georgia’s political differences. Today, Georgia has moved backward on its path toward becoming a stronger democracy in the Euro-Atlantic family of nations.”

Mark Clayton, Ambassador of Great Britain to Georgia, also commented on Melia’s arrest: “Shocked by the scenes at the UNM headquarters this morning.

Violence and chaos in Tbilisi are the last thing Georgia needs right now. I urge all sides to act with restraint, now and in the coming days,” he tweeted. Žygimantas Pavilionis, Chairman of

Foreign Affairs Committee of the Lithuanian Parliament and an active commentator on the recent political events in Georgia, posted on Facebook: “Looks like I was right, although someone in Lithuania and, of course, those in power from high tribunes in Tbilisi, criticized me for trying to stop what has started now. UNM headquarters currently being stormed using gas, as Putin once did.”

He added that despite the opposition’s willingness to start negotiations with the government, “Ivanishvili’s commanders” were “acting like Putin or Lukashenko.

We need to lift the world up and regulate it. I spoke to the world yesterday, the world needs to respond today.”

US Congressman Adam Kinzinger tweeted, “This is a very concerning move by the Gov’t of Georgia. Given the tense situation, I call on the gov’t to stand down from this dramatic action. We are all watching.”

He was joined in his concern by three other congresspersons, Jim Risch, a member of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Jeanne Shaheen, Chair of the European Subcommittee, and Gerry Connolly, Chair of the “Friendship of Georgia” in the House of Representatives, who released a statement claiming that the current events hinder Georgia’s democracy.

“We call for the release of all political prisoners, including Nika Melia and Giorgi Rurua. All political parties in Georgia must stop provocations and negotiate a peaceful solution to the crisis,” they said.

“Very sad day in Georgia,” the former US Ambassador to Georgia, Ian Kelly, tweeted, while Public Defender Nino Lomjaria termed the arrest by the use of force as “concerning.”

“Nothing more shameful could have happened on February 23, 100 years after the loss of Georgia’s independence and

sovietization, as the raid on the office of an opposition party and the arrest of an opposition leader, which would inevitably lead to Georgia’s alienation from the Western world,” Lomjaria posted on her Facebook page.

Yet despite the above comments, Nikoloz Samkharadze, Georgian Dream MP and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, said on Wednesday that international reactions to the arrest of the Georgian National Movement chairman had been “soft.”

“The international reactions are quite measured and soft, given that the leader of the opposition party has been imprisoned. This, of course, will always be a cause for concern in all countries, but we must emphasize one thing: the leaders of opposition parties in developed countries do not behave as they do in Georgia. As such, this criticism was to be expected, and may even be partially acceptable to us. However, in order for this not to be repeated in future, and for the leaders of the opposition parties not to act toward society and the state so rudely and arrogantly, dialogue is needed,” the MP noted.

The Georgian Young Lawyers’ Association and Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center said they believe the decision to arrest Nika Melia showed signs of selective, political justice. Both organizations called on political leaders to “take constructive steps to bring the country out of the political crisis and to avoid polarizing society, further radicalizing the situation, and shifting it to a

violent mode.”

They advised the government to negotiate and to de-escalate the process by ensuring an effective investigation into the most serious cases of human rights violations on June 20, 2019, and to hold the relevant persons, including those responsible for dispersing the rally, accountable.

“Law enforcement agencies should not use heavy-handed methods/approaches which will further aggravate the situation and reduce public confidence in them,” they added.

The government’s actions were also critically assessed by Transparency International Georgia, who said: “We condemn this decision by the Georgian government, as it will further aggravate the current political crisis in the country.

We believe that the Georgian authorities could have defused the situation through legal and non-violent means. Regrettably, the authorities did not wait for the consideration of Melia’s appeal in the Court of Appeals, nor did they demonstrate the will to defuse the difficult situation and conduct the political process in a calm environment. Clearly, the arrest of the chairman of the largest opposition party is a continuation of newly elected Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s aggressive rhetoric. Considering the warnings and the calls from Georgia’s international partners in recent days, this decision from the Georgian government has done serious harm to the country’s international reputation.”

4

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

PM Garibashvili Presents Renewed Composition of Gov’t, New VPs

M Source: Reuters

Armenian PM Warns of Coup Attempt as Army Demands His Resignation

BY ANA DUMBADZE

A

rmenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan warned of an attempted military coup against him on Thursday after the army demanded he and his government resign, Reuters reports.

“Pashinyan has faced protests and calls to resign after what his critics say was the disastrous handling of a six-week conflict between Azerbaijan and ethnic Armenian forcesovertheregionofNagorno-Karabakh last year,” reads the article.

“The prime minister and the govern-

ment are unable to make adequate decisions in this highly critical and fateful situation. The army has always stood by the people, as well as the people by the army,” the Head of General Staff of the Armed Forces said in a statement.

Pashinyan has rejected calls to step down and called on his followers to rally in central Yerevan to support him. He is currently moving in the streets of Yerevan along with supporters.

He also fired the Army General, the Interfax news agency reports.

The opposition will hold a demonstration and demand Pashinyan’s resignation in parallel with the rally in support of the Prime Minister.

embers of new Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili’s Cabinet of Ministers were nominated this week. Only the heads of two state agencies have been replaced in the renewed Cabinet of Ministers: The Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure, and the Ministry of Defense.

Based on Garibashvili’s decision, the current Deputy Minister of Defense, Juansher Burchuladze, will take over the position of the Minister of Defense, and the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure, Maia Tskitishvili, will be replaced by her First Deputy, Irakli Karseladze.

Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports – Mikheil Chkhenkeli; Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture – Levan Davitashvili; Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development – Natela Turnava; Minister of Defense – Juansher Burchuladze; Minister of Justice – Gocha Lortkipanidze; Minister of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labor, Health and Social Affairs – Ekaterine Tikaradze; Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure – Irakli Karseladze; Minister of Foreign Affairs – David Zalkaliani; Minister of Finance – Ivane Machavariani;

Minister of Internal Affairs – Vakhtang Gomelauri; State Minister for Reconciliation and Civic Equality – Tea Akhvlediani.

PM Garibashvili appointed the Minister of Foreign Affairs David Zalkaliani and the Minister of Finance Ivane Machavariani as Vice Prime Ministers.

David Zalkaliani served as the Vice PM in the cabinet of Garibashvili’s predecessor, Giorgi Gakharia, while Machavariani replaced the former Minister of Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili in the role

following her resignation.

Tskitishvili quit the post a few hours after Gakharia resigned.

For the record, Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia resigned last Thursday morning, explaining that he considered it unjust to arrest UNM Chairman Nika Melia in conditions when there is a danger of political escalation. Following his resignation, the Georgian Dream party nominated then-Defense Minister Irakli Garibashvili as a candidate for Prime Minister.

US President Biden to be Tested as Russian Pipeline Resumes

Image source: Shutterstock/Vasilis Avestas

BY MICHAEL GODWIN

T

he development of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline slated to run into Germany from Russia has long been a hotly contested project. The gas pipeline has been Putin’s pet project since its inception in 2011, and has continually come up as an example of his ongoing subtle incursion into Europe.

During the previous US administration, the pipeline construction was halted after strict sanctions were levied on any company involved in the construction, even leading to the possibility of trade restrictions being aimed at Germany itself. Now, only a few weeks into the new Biden administration, Putin has fast-tracked the construction process.

This makes the issue the first time Biden will be tested on his ability to stand against Putin and support those resisting Russian expansion. This expan-

sion also marks a huge turning point in the counter-European strategy the Russians have been working on for decades.

Currently, Russian gas has to go through Ukraine, but with the completion of Nord Stream 2 this cuts them out of the loop completely. The further ostracization of Ukraine is key in the Kremlin's strategy to divide Europe.

One of Ukraine’s closest supporters in this matter has been Poland. In a joint piece in Politico, the foreign ministers of both Ukraine and Poland called on the US to tackle the issue as quickly as possible, stating, “We call on US President Joe Biden to use all means at his disposal to prevent the project from being completed.”

It is no coincidence that the resumption of construction on the pipeline by the Russians began almost immediately after the US election. The Trump administration had been notoriously hard on the project, causing it to come to a grinding halt, and forcing virtually all stakeholders to abandon it. These actions left

the Russian government and its stateowned gas giant Gazprom with no course forward.

While Biden has notably referred to the pipeline project as a “bad deal,” he has been virtually silent on the issue since taking office. This comes in the wake of the cancellation of the Keystone XL pipeline project, pushing the US away from gas independence. Altogether, this has put European leaders on edge as to whether the new administration has the ability to stand up to Russian interference.

Naturally, the implementation of the pipeline gives Putin the leverage he wants in the economic warfare against Europe.

However, in the increasingly larger picture, it brings the resources into the fold for Russia to position itself as a puppetmaster of all European and Western institutions. NATO will lose much of its bite when the gas reserves of the nations involved are at the whim of the enemy, and the European Union will suddenly have massive socio-economic consid-

erations to weigh when passing any legislation involving Russia. And countries that aspire to join the union, including Georgia, will be faced with additional barriers to entry as Russia gets a say.

If Russia gets a seat at that table, the aspirations of the Georgians to unite with the West, at least formally, get pushed further from reality. In addition, Ukraine gets further distanced from its EU partners, and any measures of support from the West become far more difficult to realize. All Putin has to do is turn the lever on the pipeline to tighten the noose on Europe should they step out of line.

Despite a questionable history in foreign policy, Biden now has a chance to show his strength against the US’s longtime rival, and to reassure Europe. More locally for the Georgians, having the insurance policy of Western involvement pays dividends. With its own growing internal strife, the last thing needed is the additional burden of a reinvigorated Russian enemy and further distance from Europe.

As the pipeline nears its 90% completion stage, it is imperative for more action to be demanded of the Biden administration. This action has to be implemented fast and heavy-handed, as Putin is not known for his amiability and agreeability. Poland and Ukraine have leveled their demands for support, and now is time for Georgia to make it known that it is not asking for help: it is a demand for security, and a commitment to the Biden administration’s platform for unity.

Image source: Pipeline & Gas Journal

First in 2006, and then in 2009, Russia took advantage of its status as a sole supplier and cut off natural gas deliveries to Ukraine without any reason or explanation." Zbigniew Rau, Polish Foreign Minister, and Dmytro Kuleba, Ukrainian Foreign Minister

POLITICS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

5

Cyber Attack on Georgian Servers

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

T Main photo source: Mtavari Arkhi

US Amb. Emphasizes Importance of Unity for Georgia amid Russian Aggression

BY ANA DUMBADZE

T

he US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan on Thursday released a video address on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Soviet occupation of Georgia, emphasizing the particular importance of unity for the nation during the Russian aggression.

“Today marks 100 years since the tragic day troops sent by the Kremlin occupied independent Georgia in 1921.

“The invasion by Soviet troops was in flagrant violation of a non-aggression pact that the Tbilisi government had

signed in Moscow less than a year earlier.

“To commemorate that sad day, the US Embassy would like to present a collective reading by my colleagues of ’25 February,’ a poem by Kolau Nadiradze.

“The poem was published in 1985, but it speaks of the tragedy of the day when Georgians had their independence stolen from them by Moscow and saw their country subsumed into the Soviet Union.

“The poem symbolizes with heartbreaking clarity the difficulties of living under Kremlin rule during the Soviet period for the proud people of Georgia.

“Today, more than ever, we are reminded of how important a united Georgia is in the face of Russian aggression,” the

Ambassador said in the video address.

Red Army Invasion of Georgia On February 25, 1921, the Russian Red Army invaded Tbilisi and overthrew the Georgian government, which had been elected through universal and free elections, annexing the Democratic Republic of Georgia, a subject of international law. The Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic was established on 25 February 1921.

Based on the resolution of the Parliament of Georgia of July 21, 2010, February 25 was declared the Day of Soviet occupation.

Watch the video on the US Embassy Facebook page

JSC Iberia Refreshments: Resilient Leadership throughout the Coronavirus Crisis

BUSINESS

ity is another core characteristic of our company. We choose to talk less and act more, by using our resources to the fullest.

We aspire to efficiency, which leads to the maximal economic output for business and utmost benefit for our consumers.

HOW ARE YOU SUPPORTING YOUR EMPLOYEES THROUGH THE PANDEMIC?

Continued from page 1

TELL US ABOUT THE CORE VALUES THAT JSC IBERIA UPHOLDS. At the heart of values for both JSC Iberia and the Pepsi brand we represent in Georgia lies the principle of responsible and efficient achievement of the goals we strive for. We are fundamentally convinced that a company's success is inextricably linked with the sustainability of the world around us. And this year has

he Georgian Dream party announced that on February 23, a large-scale cyber attack was carried out on their server, which caused the hardware of the provider companies to be interrupted.

“Given the current situation, it is not difficult to guess where this criminal act may have originated. It is clear that crime has become almost the only form of action for specific political forces. We

call on law enforcement agencies to investigate this cybercrime,” the party announced in a statement.

According to the Ministry of Internal Affairs, cyber attacks were carried out on their computer infrastructure from different countries.

The statement said that the relevant unit of the Ministry of Internal Affairs prevented the attack as a result of operative actions.

An investigation is underway into the fact of illegal use and violation of computer data or a computer system under Articles 285 and 286 of the Criminal Code of Georgia.

very well shown us how truly connected we are.

Therefore, our principal value is responsibility. We believe that continuous improvement of our products, along with a responsible attitude towards our consumers and employees, are some of the assets that guarantee our success as a company and which create long-term values for society.

But to remain a successful company in times such as these is a huge challenge. We take this challenge as an opportunity. Agil-

Many in Georgia have lost their jobs due to the coronavirus crisis. And many have formed a false idea that it has become easier to select personnel due to the shortage of jobs in the country. This conception does not comply with our company’s vision. We are not taking advantage of this situation and we do not believe in short-term opportunities.

If a company hires an employee with a low salary, he or she will quit the moment the market situation improves. Iberia Refreshments has a different strategy to attract, hire and cooperate with talented employees over the long term. We invest in people; we help them grow and develop, together with the company. I trust the employees who have been with us for a long time, who deliver high performance through passion and dedication to their work, who are loyal to the company. It is important for them to see the development potential of the company and, of course, development opportunities for themselves too. Our task is to provide them with such opportunities, as we strive to become one of the top employers in the Georgian job market. There are many smart and motivated people in Georgia, and unfortunately many of them emigrate. By investing in people, supporting a new generation, helping them adapt to and develop in their own country, we want to motivate them to stay in Georgia. We do need qualified, educated people here in Georgia, who can quickly adapt to new market requirements. That’s why we go the extra mile for every single employee. We train them, because we think learning is the best investment in both professional and personal development; it helps deliver

outstanding results. After all, focus and consistency are key.

Our company has done everything imaginable for the safe arrival and stay of our employees in the workplace. We set temperature screening at the entrance, provided each employee with personal protective products (antiseptics, masks, protection shields). And we made sure that every single one of our employees kept their job.

HOW HAS THE CORONAVIRUS CRISIS AFFECTED OTHER AREAS OF YOUR BUSINESS? The coronavirus crisis has affected the operation of almost all existing companies. These are indeed hard times, with the world facing strict regulations and restrictions that hinder daily operational processes.

We work in the FMCG field, and sales in this sector have certainly decreased, though less compared to other industries.

We’ve seen certain changes in buying behavior. Due to the pandemic and restrictions, most people have switched to eating at home, and they try to buy cheaper products. Many restaurants and shops are closed. Indeed, there is a drop in sales, but the situation is not critical.

I hope that after the restrictions are lifted, the market will recover quickly.

Georgia is a country that has been through its share of crises, and the Georgian economy has always recovered. I believe this time will be no exception either, and the first signs of recovery may be visible as early as the coming year. Until then, we strongly believe that in such times of anguish, all of us should stand together and be resilient. It’s a big challenge, yet an opportunity to acquire new skills and learn how to handle crisis situations in the best way. What doesn’t kill us, makes us stronger.

TELL US ABOUT JSC IBERIA’S PROJECTS THAT YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF. The most successful project is the path we have traveled to create our unique

business in Georgia. Most people associate our company with the Pepsi trademark, yet our business has a multifaceted development vector.

JSC Iberia was able to provide the Georgian soft drinks market with products of its own, namely the famous and much-loved Georgian lemonade Iberia, with a wide range of flavors, and Max Power Energy Drink, which is very popular among young people.

Thanks to this step, we have become one of the big players in Georgia’s beverages market. We also created a powerful production base for the future development of other consumer categories at our own facilities.

We care deeply for the preservation of our environment. We are in favor of reducing the use of plastic. Therefore, we have reduced the weight of bottles and the amount of plastic in packaging.

We also transfer the production of part of our drinks to non-PET lines. Today, other than PET bottling lines, glass bottles and aluminum can lines also operate in Tbilisi’s production facilities.

We care for the health of our consumers, which is why we’ve introduced to our market low-calorie, sugar-free beverages, such as Pepsi Black, Pepsi Lime and Pepsi Mango.

Thanks to the rich palette of drinks that Iberia Refreshments offers, we have managed to significantly improve the company's market position and create an extensive distribution base.

WHAT IS YOUR DEFINITION OF SUCCESS? Successful companies are those that can grow at a faster rate than the market does.

I believe that we can aim for more and build a sustainable company that gives more job opportunities and creates more value for people and society. We will invest a lot in business, marketing, innovation and design in order to attract more consumers. We want to become one of the fastest growing companies in Georgia’s consumer goods sector.

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BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

EU ENPARD Supported Project in Keda and Khulo Summarize Four Years of Success!

BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES

E

NPARD’s rural development projects, implemented since 2017 by the Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) in Keda, and Caritas Czech Republic in Khulo, have helped mobilize local communities and initiate various social and economic actions to improve lives in rural Adjara. In just four years, 170 local development initiatives were supported and over 500 new jobs were created through the EU-supported Local Action Groups (LAGs) established

170 local development initiatives supported and 500+ new jobs created

in the Keda and Khulo municipalities in Adjara.

“We have supported these LAGs to work closely with the government, civil society and private sectors, define local needs and engage communities in development actions,” said Ketevan Khutsishvili, Project Officer of the Rural Development Program, Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, at the project closing ceremony this week. “The greatest achievement for us is to see many successful local initiatives, but most importantly, the increased confidence of the rural population in a better future. We believe that the local communities will build on this and continue cooperation for stronger and more sustainable local development.”

The Keda LEADER project has been successful in promoting inclusive rural growth and improving the well-being of rural communities via the implementation of innovative approaches that generate diverse employment opportunities, promote climate smart practices, develop integrated natural resource management, and protect the environment, while the ENPARD Khulo project brought significant improvement to the business environment, employment, and overall quality of life in Khulo municipality.

“We are glad to have supported environmentally friendly and climate resilient actions and initiatives such as youth

empowerment, eco-tourism, green energy, and agro-tourism,” noted Nana Janashia, CENN Executive Director. “In Keda alone, over 90 local businesses and entrepreneurs have been supported that are already operating successfully.”

“Despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, our project contributed to the development of over 60 business initiatives, creating more than 300 jobs, as well as mobilizing and empowing hundreds of local citizens, including youth, women, and persons with disabilities,” said Jan Blinka, Head of Mission, Caritas Czech Republic in Georgia, adding, “It has been a great pleasure to experience such positive development!”

Key achievements of the projects are the establishment of Local Action Groups (LAGs) in both Keda and Khulo municipalities. These LAGs mobilized their local communities, brought together civil society, private and public sector representatives, and designed local development strategies to meet the local priorities and needs. The EU supported a total of 170 development initiatives (97 in Keda and 73 in Khulo), and helped create over 500 new jobs through the two LAGs. These initiatives promote local entrepreneurship and the diversification of economic and social activities in various areas, including agriculture, tourism, infrastructure development, education, environment, and municipal services.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE PAST YEARS OF SUCCESSFUL WORK IN KEDA: • At the beginning of February, the LAGS helped organize the “Invest in Mountainous Adjara” business forum, aimed at helping local entrepreneurs expand business networks, support economic diversification and stimulate investments and innovations in Mountainous Adjara. The event focused on two main themes, Agriculture and Tourism, and entailed panel discussions and B2B meetings.

• In December 2020, the Keda LAG, with CENN’s support, held an online B2B meeting which presented opportunities for industry representatives and local entrepreneurs to discuss recom-

mendations to foster innovative business models that can support sustainable growth and job creation in Georgia’s rural areas.

• In August last year, CENN hosted media professionals in Keda to highlight the local enthusiasm for development there. The guests saw first-hand not only the beauty of the municipality, but also the hard work and determination of the local business owners, visiting the guesthouses, wineries, agricultural businesses and cultural heritage preservation projects run by the local communities.

After the project closing ceremony event, the attendees visited EU-supported rural development initiatives in Keda municipality, family hotel and winery Chateau Iveri, and a public school in the town of Keda, where the representatives of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport of the Adjara Autonomous Republic, CENN, Democratic Institute and Keda LAG signed a Memorandum of Understanding to support the improvement of energy supply through energy efficiency technologies in 66 public schools of Keda municipality. The school is also a grant winner of the Keda LEADER project, as part of which a modern study space was set up within the school. The space was equipped with modern technologies and furniture and aims to create a shared space for pupils where they can develop various skills.

rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Program. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 234.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to provide economic opportunities in rural area and reduce poverty in Georgia.

More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge and www. eu4Georgia.ge. More information on Keda LAG is available at www.kedalag. ge and Khulo LAG at www.khulolag.ge.

MORE ABOUT THE PROJECTS The project “Optimizing the Potential of Local Assets for Rural Development of Keda Municipality” (Keda Leader), was implemented with the financial support of the EU by CENN, in partnership with the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia (CSRDG), Institute of Democracy (IoD) and the Austrian Institute for Regional Studies and Spatial Planning (ÖIR).

The Project “Promotion of Rural Development and Diversification in Khulo Municipality” (ENPARD Khulo) was implemented with the financial support of the EU by Caritas Czech Republic, in partnership with Croatian non-governmental organization HMRR and PMC Research Center.

The EU is supporting agriculture and

On USAID’s Yes-Georgia Program: Supporting Women’s Empowerment

BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

U

SAID’s program Supporting Youth and Women Entrepreneurship in Georgia (YES-Georgia) supports Georgia’s economic development by working with aspiring entrepreneurs to advance their business skills and ability to secure funding for their businesses.

The program is implemented by Crystal Fund with the financial support of USAID, the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative, and JSC MFO Crystal.

Sofio Samteladze

USAID YES-Georgia supports economic growth and empowers Georgia’s youth and women by encouraging innovation and promoting entrepreneurship, and in so doing enhancing youth and women’s employability. The program provides emerging entrepreneurs and professionals with skills development, business training, mentoring, and access to finance.

Over the last two years, the program has been focusing on working with women entrepreneurs from Georgia, providing training and consultancy in business skills development, mentorship, and access to legal and accounting services. To reach out to more women in rural areas, the program has developed mobile business services through its “Buzz-Georgia” and School for Young Entrepreneurs initiatives. The program aims to empower local women to nourish their potential through making use of abundant opportunities that are designed to help.

Since 2015, USAID YES-Georgia has worked with more than 4,000 youth, providing them with business training.

In total, 339 entrepreneurs have been able to develop business plans, 78 of whom have already obtained co-financing for the expansion of their businesses.

In 2019, USAID YES-Georgia received additional funding, as it was selected by the Women’s Global Development and Prosperity (W-GDP) Fund, part of the US Government’s broader W-GDP initiative. It was one of 14 activities selected worldwide and the only one from the Europe and Eurasia region.

It merits mention that USAID YESGeorgia’s work with women entrepreneurs helps tackle deep-rooted gender dogmas about the leadership role of women in Georgian society. The experience of the program participants demonstrates how successful women entrepreneurs can break persistent patterns of judgement that posit men naturally more potent in business and other fields traditionally dominated by men. Winemaking is just one example, although the program covers other sectors too.

With USAID YES-Georgia’s assistance, many women entrepreneurs have succeeded in either starting up family businesses or joining forces with other women to engage in wine tourism or wine marketing activities.

For instance, Sopio Samteladze and Shorena Pataridze from Racha have managed to successfully revive their family winemaking traditions and practices.

Sofia told the Entrepreneur: “Viticulture has long been a tradition in our family.

We made wine for personal consumption, which merited immense approval from our circle of friends and acquaintances. With the help of the USAID YESGeorgia program, I managed to bottle our family wine and offer it to other people. Today, we produce four types of wine: Khvanchkara, Tetra / Tkbili, Alexandrouli and Tsulukidze Tetra. Through the program, I met many strong, purposeful, and talented women from Georgia, who helped me take on far more challenging tasks with a better, more refined attitude . Such projects give small

Mariam Merebashvili

entrepreneurs significant knowledge and teach them to plan a business properly, calculate the risks, and get it right.”

Similarly, Tea Makhalatashvili, Natia Gurashvili, Mariam Gorashvili, and Khatia Khidisheli started up successful winemaking business projects in Georgia’s eastern region of Kakheti. Mariam Merebashvili took a step further, getting involved in wine tourism in her village in Georgia’s Shida Kartli region. Mariam told the Entrepreneur: “In recent years, we have revived the centuries-old cellar of our ancestors and created a place that is popular with tourists. We produce typical wine types for Kartli, such as Chinuri, Goruli Mtsvane and Tavkveri.

Participating in the USAID YES-Georgia program was a unique experience that taught me diverse skills and approaches needed to grow my business. In the near

future, we plan to cultivate a unique Shavkapito vineyard and arrange an ethno-restaurant, where visitors will be able to taste both Shida Kartli and Ossetian cuisine.”

All these women take care of the vineyards all by themselves, produce all kinds of wine, from powerful reds to delicate whites, and make sure it reaches others too.

Going forward, USAID YES-Georgia will continue to learn from the abovementioned success stories, empowering more women entrepreneurs to increase their self-efficacy, confidence, and skills to follow in the footsteps of other successful women. By early 2024, USAID YES-Georgia aims to provide business management training, legal and accounting services, mentoring and networking opportunities to over 2,500 women.

IWG plc, Level 4, 2 Leonidze str. Tbilisi, Georgia | +995 32 290 039

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BUSINESS

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

Modern Hotel Opens in Centuries-Old Tsalka with EU & Tsalka LAG Support: HOME+, Where Comfort & History Meet

BY ANA BIBILEISHVILI, TRANSLATED

BY ELENE DZEBISASHVILI

I

f you are the kind of traveler who likes to revel in the beauty of rocks and mountains, in the powers that nature supplies, all the while having the convenience to rest in comfort at the end of the day, then it is time to take the road to Tsalka.

The multi-ethnic locals, those "watchmen" of archaic churches, shrines and castles, are waiting wholeheartedly for comfort-loving travelers; if you are still hesitant, take my word for it - Tsalka will steal your heart!

Whether on a short visit or a long trip, we always seek to enjoy an original relation to the surroundings, and to make best use of our time. Tsalka Municipality, replete with charming landscapes, makes such an experience more than possible. And now more than ever.

Temur Mgeladze, a local, recently received funding through a grant competition supported by the European Union’s ENPARD program, for the open-

ing of his well-equipped, three-floor hotel, Home +, in the area near the Dashbashi Canyon, which belongs to Tsalka Central Square. Here, in addition to a pleasant environment, visitors can benefit from guide and pick-up services.

"Because modern and well-equipped hotels are quite scarce in the municipal-

ity, we decided to fill the gap in the market. Receiving funding has made our dream a reality. In addition to financial support, the project representatives supported us even in minute details,” Mgeladze says.

Proficiency in English and Russian languages, as well as a good knowledge of the must-see sights, are some of the assets that help Temur run his project.

All rooms in the hotel have a kitchen, but should guests prefer, they can also use the food service. Besides Temur, two others are also on hand to host you at the hotel.

It is true that travelers are fond of unique places, which Tsalka undoubtedly is, but the region is not commonly included in tourist routes. That the place abounds with opportunities, and the perpetual presence of sublime nature, is evident for anyone who has visited.

With the financial support of the EU, Tsalka Local Action Group (LAG) and CENN work together in Tsalka Municipality to awaken this very potential; to enhance the socio-economic situation in the region through implementing various projects, working on strategies and determining priority directions.

A total of 214 persons participated in the first grant competition within the project "EMBRACE Tsalka" supported by the EU ENPARD program. 13 projects were funded among them, including both economic and social projects, as well as community initiatives. Such projects aim to contribute to the employment of locals, empowerment of women and, as a result, the development of Tsalka’s economy as a whole. This was the primary aim of

"Every family has suffered the consequences of the pandemic in one way or another. This grant was a motivator for us to pursue our passion. It is good that today there are organizations that give stimulus, hope and opportunity to the population," – Temur Mgeladze

Temur Mgeladze’s project too, which is why he was chosen as a finalist.

"Temur Mgeladze’s project, with its goals and content, will contribute to the development of tourism in Tsalka municipality. It will create opportunities for the thriving of a modern, quality accommodation service in Tsalka. The advancement of such services is essential for Tsalka Municipality,” said Melano Tkabladze, manager of the ‘EMBRACE Tsalka’ project.

Besides stressing the critical significance of local funding as an important tool for the development of Tsalka municipality, the project beneficiaries also said this process has acquired a special significance in the context of the coronavirus pandemic - people were given the opportunity to develop and move forward.

"Every family has suffered the consequences of the pandemic in one way or another. Many people were deprived of a chance to carry out their planned activities. For my family too, it would be impossible to open Home+ without the funding received within the project. The grant was a motivator for us to pursue our passion. It is good that today there are organizations that give stimulus, hope and opportunity to the population," said Mgeladze.

BTU: First Georgian University to Become a Member of the MIT Entrepreneurial Network

BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

F

or the first time, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)’s largest innovation network (MIT - Martin Trust Center), has granted membership to a Georgian university. The Business and Technology University is the first in the region to become a member of the Martin Trust Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). The agreement envisages the implementation of various joint projects and the improvement of the entrepreneurial environment in the country, the support of startups, and the stimulation of innovative processes.

MIT, the world premier, is an important member of the international innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem. The Martin Trust Center was established as a leading institution in the field to share knowledge and experience relevant to the challenges and demands of the 21st century. According to research, millions of jobs are created by members of the center every year, who have established more than 30,000 companies, and have generated more

than $2 trillion in revenue. The economic scale of the Center even exceeds the volume of gross domestic product (GDP) of the 9th largest economy in the world.

Membership in an international network of this magnitude presents unprecedented opportunities for Georgia's entrepreneurial ecosystem.

With BTU’s membership, all startups, small and medium-sized businesses, investors and various foundations in Georgia will have access to the international network of the Martin Trust Center, various events and conferences organized by the center, the latest research and literature generated by it, and more. The awareness and popularity of Georgian startups in the international ecosystem will also increase, while affiliate experts from the Martin Trust Center will hold webinars and workshops at BTU, sharing quarterly industry analysis material.

The BTU will also be able to participate in the accelerator and demo day organized by MIT in New York, Cambridge and Silicon Valley, Delta V, establishing links with venture funds, investors, and Silicon Valley startups.

Entrepreneurial symposiums and con-

ferences are held annually within the framework of this event and summarize the latest achievements and trends.

Membership in the Martin Trust

Center also includes access to an online module designed for novice entrepreneurs, and includes a variety of resources and tools for startup devel-

opment. This module is an online DIY version of MIT's famous educational accelerator Delta V. In 2020, for the first time in the region, MIT's global startup lab was founded on a BTU basis and launched a startup acceleration program.

In addition, BTU Entrepreneurship Center is publishing a book this year

by Bill Aulet, founder of the Martin Trust Center, one of the world's leading textbooks, Disciplined Entrepreneurship: 24 Steps to a Successful Startup. The presentation of the book is scheduled for spring 2021.

The membership agreement of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Martin Trust Center was reached in partnership between the Business and Technology University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

The program lasted four weeks at BTU and was implemented by four startup mentors invited from MIT. It involved 28 students, including 18 students from the Business and Technology University and 10 selected students from different universities in Georgia.

At the end of the project, a startup demo day was held for local and international experts.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

9

How Restaurants are Fighting Food Waste: Interview with Mama Terra wasted if they are not sold fresh.

We avoid buying too many vegetables and fruits to avoid food waste.

We cook large amounts of beans, chickpeas and some vegetables for soups that go to the freezer in batches, and we only take the containers out when we need them.

My impression is that baked goods and large batches of pre-prepared food and salads tend to generate the biggest amount of waste, but that’s not the case for us.

FOOD WASTE IS SAID TO BE ONE OF THE BIGGEST CONTRIBUTORS TO CLIMATE CHANGE, ACCOUNTING FOR 8% OF THE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS. FROM YOUR TIME WORKING IN GEORGIA, WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR EXPERIENCE WITH REGARDS TO FOOD WASTE?

INTERVIEW BY NINI DAKHUNDARIDZE

C

ENN, with the support of the British Embassy, this month kicked off a new project ‘Sustainable Food Systems for Climate Resilience,’ which also launched the ‘Say No to Food Waste’ campaign.

It is hoped that the project will contribute to reduction of the country’s GHG emissions by initiating dialogues between private and public sectors, and as a result advocating relevant policy changes at the governmental level. For this reason, CENN is putting together a Food Waste Working Group comprised of key actors in the food industry affected by this issue.

Starting this month, CENN has launched the ‘Say No to Food Waste’ media campaign to urge people to change their behavior and consume more responsibly to reduce food waste. The campaign strives to achieve an “awakened” culture, the members of which will act more responsibly in support of their own surroundings. GEORGIA TODAY, ever eager to support a good cause, is one of the CENN campaign’s media partners.

In this interview with GEORGIA TODAY, Mama Terra Veggie Corner’s Carolina Cavazos Guerra tells us how the restaurant views food waste management.

Carolina has been working in the food business for almost three years, having come from a household that ate fresh and healthy meals, with a mother who was an excellent cook.

“Another important aspect is that I also grew up in an anti-food waste environment. My mother prepared fresh food every day, and if we had leftovers, she shared them with the rest of the family or with the neighbors. I have also followed the same mentality in running a business in a more sustainable way. The concept of Mama Terra has been popular since we opened our doors in 2018, and most of our customers are people who appreciate the food being freshly prepared while also being healthy.

“The idea of Mama Terra is a fusion of vegetarian Georgian and international food, using local fresh products as much as possible. I personally love the cheeses here; they remind me of fresh Mexican cheeses, so I use it in a lot of our vegetarian dishes. Now with the lockdowns due to the pandemic, we have been working on deliveries, and we still have regular

customers who order their food online, and I’m very grateful for it.”

ONE-THIRD OF FOOD PRODUCED EACH YEAR IS LOST OR WASTED. FOOD WASTE IS CAUSED BY OVERPRODUCTION, SPOILAGE, OVERBUYING, AND A LOT MORE. IN YOUR RESTAURANT WORK, HOW DO YOU HANDLE POTENTIAL FOOD WASTE? In Mama Terra, around 90% of the food is prepared fresh, like soups, main dishes or salads, which means we rarely have spoiled food that goes to the bins. For example, about one year ago, we decided to remove bread from our menu, and instead prepare fresh mchadis (cornbread patties) to go with the food. This was for two reasons: one is that most of our customers prefer to avoid wheat flour, and the second was exactly to avoid food waste, because sometimes we bought more bread than we’d use.

We prepare small amounts of pre-prepared food every day, like fried beans, which we tend to finish at the end of the day.

We don’t have any baked goods on our menu (i.e cakes), because we believe there is a high probability of these being

In general, it is easy to find fresh ingredients when we need them, even in an “emergency.” I think it’s the same for many individuals, and I’ve seen that people tend not to buy a large amount of ingredients. Also, it’s great that in this country, instead of over-producing of fresh veggies in-season, there is a culture of preserving and fermentation, as compared to other countries.

But what I have noticed is that large amounts of bread are taken to the bins.

PEOPLE ARE LESS LIKELY TO BUY FRUIT AND VEG IF IT IS PHYSICALLY IRREGULAR. AS SUCH, ONE THIRD OF THE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES GLOBALLY DO NOT MAKE IT TO OUR GROCERY STORE SHELVES BECAUSE THEY ARE REJECTED TO AVOID COMPLAINTS FROM CONSUMERS. WHERE DO YOU BUY THE INGREDIENTS YOU USE IN YOUR KITCHEN? DO YOU CHOSE AESTHETICALLY PLEASING, OR ARE YOU HAPPY TO BUY “UGLY”?

Half of our fresh products are bought in Carrefour, for invoice purposes for our accountancy records. The other half is bought in the Bazaar. As long as it is fresh, the aesthetic does not matter [to us].

Sometimes, some stores offer over-ripe products at a reduced price, for example bananas. I like to buy them because they are good for smoothies.

40% OF WASTE IN GEORGIA IS ORGANIC WASTE, A LARGE PORTION OF WHICH IS FOOD.

HOW DO YOU SUGGEST WE REDUCE THIS PERCENTAGE? Although it is not the case for our restaurant, I would suggest for those who prepare large batches of salads or other products, to give a 50% discount at the end of the day on those products that won’t be fresh the following day. The same should apply to grocery stores who sell pre-prepared meals: give a discount on such products before they expire.

Giving them to staff or other specialized centers that collect food to give to vulnerable people would also be a good way to reduce waste.

AS A RESULT OF THE PANDEMIC, THE POVERTY LEVELS ARE EXPECTED TO RISE TO UP TO 125 MILLION, AND 2020 MARKED THE MOST SEVERE INCREASE IN GLOBAL FOOD INSECURITY, IMPACTING VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS IN ALMOST EVERY COUNTRY. YET WE CONTINUE TO WASTE A THIRD OF PERFECTLY EDIBLE FOOD. WHAT WORK HAS MAMA TERRA DONE IN THE PAST/WILL YOU DO IN FUTURE TO HELP THE VULNERABLE? Again, we usually prepare our food fresh and rarely have leftovers to give away.

In my personal experience, since we are a vegetarian restaurant, we have had weird experiences with people who have come in asking for food. In one particular case, a couple came once asking for food and we wanted to offer some khachapuri that one of our waitresses had extra, and they refused because they happened to be vegans! Another case involved someone who wanted meat!

We are not actively involved in giving away food. In the rare cases when we have extra, we generally give it away to staff or friends.

ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ON FIGHTING FOOD WASTE IN GEORGIA? It’s great that efforts are starting to be made to raise awareness on this issue.

It would be fantastic if there were more centers collecting unwanted food to give

to those who need it. If they exist here, I’ve never heard of them, so more information about them would be great. It’s especially good for young generations to be aware of this issue.

Georgia is a very resilient country that has lived in the past with difficult times and food scarcity, so older generations are probably more conscious about avoiding food waste. This should be transmitted to younger generations who, at present, may take for granted all the food that is available and hence be less conscious about this issue.

A very personal opinion: I also grew up in an environment where food waste in our home was a no-no, so I’m proud to have been brought up with a wasteless mentality, not only regarding food, but other valuable resources like water, which many people these days take for granted. Although tackling these issues should start from home, young generations seem to be better influenced by social media, so this tool can be used to educate and bombard them with information about the gravity of this problem and solutions.

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SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

British International School of Tbilisi Announces Scholarship Programme 2021-22 more attractive to universities,” Priest notes.

This scholarship offer is only available to Georgian citizens who have a track record of academic excellence and positive contributions to school life at their current school. The scholarship would see your child benefit from a British education for the final years of their education and gain them access to some of the best universities around the world.

“Our mission is to equip learners with the essential knowledge, skills and expertise they need to realise their full academic and personal potential, and to succeed in work and life in the increasingly dynamic 21st century. This is achieved by providing a comprehensive and engaging international education to every child in a stimulating and caring environment,” Principal Priest notes.

“We focus on the development of academic subject knowledge, skills and understanding, as well as developing intellectual, personal, social, emotional and physical skills. Our curriculum is organised so that the children are challenged and inspired to develop as individuals, and are empowered to achieve success in the fast-changing modern world.”

T

he British International School of Tbilisi (BIST) is to extend a limited number of merit and needs-based scholarship opportunities to Georgian citizen students in grades 6 to 11 for the 2021-22 academic year.

Georgia has many high-achieving students who make a positive contribution to the academic and social life of their current schools, but are in learning environments that do not offer an international education or the opportunities that can be found at BIST. “This is exactly the type of student we would like to join BIST and benefit from our learning process, curriculum, teaching styles and wider opportunities,” says BIST’s Principal, Stephen Priest.

“BIST is the premier international school in Tbilisi, an accredited member of the Council for British International Schools, and in 2019 was awarded the prestigious COBIS Patron’s Accreditation after a rigorous accreditation process,” he adds. “Our educational programmes are also recognised by the National Center

for Educational Quality Enhancement in Georgia. BIST is also a founder member of the Black Sea Schools group, an organisation that collaborates on student interaction and educational matters.”

BIST offers a UK-based curriculum adapted for an international environment. This includes the Cambridge IGCSE and A Level programmes, the global market leaders in international education, providing access to universities around the world. Cambridge A Levels also have equivalency to the Georgian Atestati and thus allow access to Georgian universities. Good A Level results can secure a university scholarship and up to a year’s worth of credit at universities and colleges in the USA. All BIST’s highly qualified teachers are British or have experience teaching a UK curriculum in British schools. They are all experts in their field and in addition offer pastoral care and a wide range of extra-curricular activities.

As well as offering Cambridge programmes, BIST has a team dedicated to supporting students in gaining access to

the best universities around the world.

This support includes university guidance counselling and assistance with applications, SAT study support for those wishing to attend US universities, and tuition towards the IELTS English language qualification.

“BIST also supports its students by developing their wider portfolio through student leadership and community service opportunities, the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Scheme, and the International Computer Driving License, all aimed at making students

Applications are now open for this scholarship opportunity. If you are interested, please contact Sophie Kasrashvili on s.kasrashvili@bist.ge in either Georgian or English. The process of selection will be as follows: 1. Contact BIST to make an appointment to discuss the scholarship.

2. Complete a BIST admissions application form.

3. Complete a BIST Financial Aid form so we can assess your financial needs and set the appropriate scholarship amount.

4. Submit a letter written by your child on why they want to study at BIST and what they will do with this opportunity. This must be in English.

5. Arrange a date and time for an admissions assessment of your child.

This will include an online GL Cognitive Abilities Test and a written English assessment. For those students seeking admission directly onto the A Level programme (the equivalent of Grades 11 and 12), a number of subject-specific assessments will also be sat.

Dep Health Minister: Why the Vaccine Import Was Delayed

BY KETEVAN SKHIRTLADZE

D

eputy Minister of Health Tamar Gabunia made a statement after Wednesday's government coordination meeting to explain why the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines have not yet been imported into Georgia.

According to Gabunia, the exact date Georgia will receive the vaccine will be known by the end of the week.

“This week, we received additional conditions for receiving the Pfizer vaccine. Another consultation between COVAX, Pfizer, and Georgia will take place at the end of the week, where all these details will be clarified and we will know exactly when we can expect to receive the promised 29,250 doses that Georgia is to receive through the COVAX

platform in the first quarter of 2021.

“We were expecting these doses by the end of February, however, due to the additional requirements set by Pfizer, all countries that were to receive doses have experienced delays,” Gabunia noted.

“This week, we will complete the negotiations and we hope to receive the expected doses from Pfizer in the first two weeks of March.”

The Deputy Minister noted that they are also in communication with AstraZeneca. The WHO has authorized AstraZeneca to vaccinate with Indian and Korean-made vaccines, and it is expected that the Caucasus region will have access to both.

“Thus, in the next few days, it will be clarified what amount of AstraZeneca vaccine we will receive through the COVAX platform. Preliminary expectations are up to 315,000 doses, but this count is yet to be clarified,” Gabunia said.

SOCIETY

GEORGIA TODAY

FEBRUARY 26 - MARCH 4, 2021

11

Nailing the Landing: Mars BLOG BY TONY HANMER

I

t’s like living in the future, sometimes. Watching, live, LIVE, as a payload from our planet reaches its nearest neighbor after a journey of seven months, then makes a harrowing, screamingly-fast-to feathersoft descent (hundreds of details to get perfect or it fails) and gently touches down on February 18, 2021. OK, almost all of the video footage came several days later, beamed back across the 11 light-minute distance. But we were with the hundreds-strong NASA technical crews in real-time on YouTube, and had only that 11-minute time lag as we followed telemetry and got a single still photo of the Perseverance rover on its way down. We cheered with them all.

Some more details: Perseverance is nicknamed Percy, and was named by seventh-grader Alexander Mather from Virginia, USA, in a competition. It has a length of 3m, width 2.7m, height 2.2m, and weight of 1,025kg: think a small car.

This makes it the largest and heaviest object we have ever landed on another planet. Percy is powered by a small nuclear reactor, converting heat from the decay of plutonium into electricity.

For someone whose childhood’s earliest remembered read book was Kings of

Space, this is sci-fi brought to life. I devour the genre, though not exclusively, and planet-themed books like Greg Bear’s Moving Mars or the Expanse set (also a TV series) are high on my list. Now is just the next chapter in the decades-long exploration of our solar system, in which vastly more awaits: we are still discovering new moons around Jupiter!

(Aside, a helpful mnemonic for remembering the order of the planets’ names, sunward first: My Very Energetic Mother Just Made Us Nachos.)

Perseverance also carries the first ever aircraft to fly on another planet (as far as we know!). Ingenuity, nicknamed Ginny, was also named by a youth in a competition: Vaneeza Rupani, a high school junior in Alabama. The 2-kilogram, solar-powered helicopter will have a bit of a wait before extensive testing, and then release as part of Percy’s search for signs of former life on the Red Planet, now seemingly long devoid of any surface water, along with its magnetic field and most of its atmosphere.

Once, it had all three.

Due to the time-lag between us and Mars, commands are impossible to respond to quickly, when instant reflexes are needed, for example during that hellish seven minutes of planetfall. This time the rover was given the ability to image its potential landing field and make its own decision about the safest place to arrive, avoiding deep dust, large rocks

and other pitfalls which could cripple or even destroy it before it accomplished anything. With a perfectly successful landing and a final tilt of only 1.5 degrees off horizontal, it seems to have chosen well. Now its six wheels can soon begin to take it to more and more interesting locations within the zone of interest, a former lake with clear inflow and outflow canals.

My brother-in-law and his wife and I were all awake for the touchdown, and saw it on our TV in Tbilisi. The red rocket in the photo is actually my young

niece’s tent, but it fitted the occasion nicely, so, no need to move it.

It’s just as well that Mars is big: currently, China and the UAE also have landing missions in progress, and other nations and consortia also have satellites in orbit. The landing projects are all happening at similar times due to taking advantage of Earth and Mars having reached nearly their closest point from each other at this time. This greatly decreases flight time and fuel needs, of course, both vital considerations given that “closest” still means 56 million km

apart. The closest theoretically possible distance has not happened in all recorded human history, being rare: 54.6 million km. 401 million km is their furthest distance apart, more than seven times the closest, and the average is 225 million km. Venus is the closest planet to Earth of all, but not yet so interesting or so easy to land on, besides being much, much hotter with its runaway greenhouse atmosphere.

In the coming weeks and months, we will get more photos and video from Percy and Ginny, including the first ever sounds from Mars to reach us. Surface material samples will be taken, some analyzed on the spot, others sealed for years-later retrieval and return to Earth.

Multitudes of cameras will record visuals in many different spectra, and many different experiments will be done, all in the search for any evidence of that so far most elusive of things outside our own planet: life.

Tony Hanmer has lived in Georgia since 1999, in Svaneti since 2007, and been a weekly writer and photographer for GT since early 2011. He runs the “Svaneti Renaissance” Facebook group, now with nearly 2000 members, at www.facebook.com/ groups/SvanetiRenaissance/ He and his wife also run their own guest house in Etseri: www.facebook.com/hanmer.house.svaneti

SPORTS

Yes, We Have Baseball in Georgia!

BY NUGZAR B. RUHADZE

H

ow many of us knew that Sakartvelo has a National Federation of Baseball?

Not many, of course! And we don’t only have a functioning federation but we also, believe it or not, enjoy a certain amount of success in this most popular American sport.

Baseball crossed our frontiers about 30 years ago, right at the dawn of the post-soviet era, which was marked with amazing innovations in the nation’s cultural life. Ramaz Goglidze started it all, a good, wise man loaded with an unbelievable amount of prestigious titles in almost every walk of life, including the presidency of the Georgian National Federation of Baseball & Softball. He was the man who invented Georgian Baseball, and managed to do so thanks to his organic ties with the USA. Incidentally, the Georgian-American strategic partnership did not fall on us like manna from heaven: our political affiliation is built on many precious details, gradually accumulated over many long years through the deliberate efforts of talented and farsighted men and women on both sides who, several decades ago, premeditated the outcome we are enjoying today. Ramaz Goglidze is definitely one of them: he would frequent America more often than his own backyard.

The other day, we all stood in a minute of silence in his honor and memory, participants in the congress dedicated to the election of a new president of the Federation. Everybody’s darling Ramaz

Goga Datunashvili, President and Gela Chikhradze, Executive Board Member, founder of Georgian Baseball

should have been there, but alas! However, Gela Chikhradze stood in for him, Goglidze’s strongest and the most faithful comrade-in-arms, himself the pathfinder and founder of baseball culture in this land. He said he was badly bereft by the former president’s recent demise, but he also sounded extremely optimistic about the future of this amazing sport in Georgia.

Gela mediated the congress in his masterful and benevolent manner. The for-

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mer secretary general of the federation, Giorgi Datunashvili, was elected president, unanimously and enthusiastically applauded by the delegates and the freshly elected executive committee.

Most welcome to the committee were new foreign members: two successful businessmen, having to do with the Georgian economic development, first vice-president of the Federation Ben Graubard and member of the executive committee, Andrew Allan Thornhill.

Journalists: Ana Dumbadze, Vazha Tavberidze, Nini Dakhundaridze, Tony Hanmer, Emil Avdaliani, Nugzar B. Ruhadze, Michael Godwin, Elene Dzebizashvili Photographer: Aleksei Serov

Isn’t it fascinating that we now have two wonderful gentlemen on the committee, one from Israel and the other from the US, ready to throw their considerable say and power into the lofty cause of developing the still-fragile baseball tradition in this country? But the hopes are strong and solid, and not without reason!

Two vice-presidents Levan Charelashvili and Otar Tavkelashvili were also elected, well-equipped with their base-

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ball experience in past and future business potential. And finally, the brilliant Sophio Khidasheli emerged as the new secretary general of the Federation, wellversed in PR technology and mass communication.

A report on past baseball dealings and upcoming prospects was made by the new president, supported by his mighty predecessor Davit Khrikadze. If we look into the details of the federation’s report, the past several years were not so bleak and trivial. Just the contrary: the successful activity of Georgia’s national baseball team looks quite promising, but the girls’ softball still leaves a lot to desire, and is asking for more resources and stronger assistance.

Georgian Softball is now in the caring hands of Ketevan Nikoleishvili, who was once a successful player herself, thrilling the viewers with her style and dexterity.

Keti is being supported like a rock by the all-time and irreplaceable baseball coach Nugzar Kapanadze. The event took place on the February 14, a happy coincidence with the Saint Valentine’s Day, at the beautiful venue of the Museum of Georgian Gastronomic Culture, in Tbilisi. The congress was hosted personally and totally at the expense of the founder, owner and director of the museum, Esma Kunchulia, with her habitual sense of hospitality and outstanding Georgian cuisine. Definitely, the refreshments looked and sounded very symbolic in terms of the future of baseball, softball and baseball in Georgia, because these three beautiful ways and means of recreation certainly need refreshment and reinvigoration in order to have a desired effect on the lives of our youth!

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