10
SOCIETY
GEORGIA TODAY
JUNE 29 - JULY 2, 2018
Alcohol Consumption in Georgia More Like Italy than Eastern Europe holism. Georgia lost an estimated 75% of its total vineyard area. Additionally, the Soviet era meddled with Georgia’s age-old tradition of winemaking by separating the estates of vineyards and reorganizing the production of wine into collective farms. Research suggests that alcohol consumption in eastern Europe decreased by 7% in the first decade after the fall of the Soviet Union. Another blow to the Georgian wine market was suffered in March of 2006 when Russian officials announced an immediate ban on all Georgian wine imports. Over 80 percent of Georgia’s explort market was reduced, with up to 90 percent typically imported by Russia. Mikhail Saakavshivili, Georgia's president at the time, considered Russia's ban on Georgian wine to be economic blackmail: "Russia is trying to strangle our economy," Saakashvili countered. The drinking patterns vary throughout eastern or central Europe; while Russia’s national drink is vodka, the drinking culture of Georgia resembles that of Italy, with wine as the favored drink. The threatening nature of the trade embargo was seen largely as an opportunity in Georgia to advance a competitive market and reduce dependency on Russia. Georgia has now expanded the export of wine to new, more lucrative markets; during 2016, a record number of Georgian wine was exported to the U.K, and exports to the U.S. rose drastically by 43%.
BY EMILY SULLIVAN
A
ccording to a report by the World Advertising Center on World Drink Trends compiled in 2005, drinkingage people are consuming alcohol in Georgia drastically less than in Poland, Estonia, Hungary, or Russia-to name a few. Furthermore, a study by the World Health Organization provides statistical results on men and women above the age of 15 in 200 countries, showing that the average person consumes the largest amount of alcohol in Belarus (17.5 liters a year). The second highest rate is found in Moldova at 16.8 liters, while Lithuania takes third place at 15.4 liters, and Russia is fourth at 15.1. Lastly, Romania is fifth, consuming on average 14.1 liters per person. These numbers also take into account homemade alcohol. Despite the cultural significance of wine and its origination in the country, Georgia ranks 67th. Alcohol has a deep political history along with its cultural history in Georgia. In 1985, Communist Party leader Mikhail Gorbachev introduced reforms to the laws governing the distribution and production of alcohol in the Soviet Union. Gorbachev uprooted vineyards throughout the nation due to lowering birth rates, increased mortality and levels of alco-
Japanese Companies Eager The National to Invest in Kazakhstan Trust of Georgia Hosts Lord Hankey from London BY KATIE RUTH DAVIES
L
ord Hankey, former head of ICOMOS UK and architect, veteran of numerous, prestigious heritage projects around the world, is coming to Georgia where he and structural engineer Kevin Hallaway are volunteering their time to help the new National Trust of Georgia restore its first building. Located at 33, Solomon Brjenis Street in Tbilisi’s Isani district, this unique mid-19th century house will undergo extensive investigation and restoration. Already, two unique Persian fireplaces have been discovered hiding behind the walls. They will remain in Tbilisi for 10 days and are happy for any Georgian architectural professionals interested in historical preservation, to come and see how they are working, so they can replicate the same techniques in local buildings. For more information see www.nationaltrustofgeorgia.org.ge Or contact ICOMOS Georgia, (32) 298 4527.
BY DIMITRI DOLABERIDZE
I
n Astana, with the assistance of the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan in Japan and Kazakh Invest, the Kazakh-Japanese business forum, the 7th meeting of the Joint Commission for Government and Private Sector on Economic Cooperation was held. Within the framework of the forum, cooperation agreements were signed with a number of large Japanese companies. At the opening of the forum, Deputy Minister for Investment and Development Arystan Kabikenov stressed that Japan is one of Kazakhstan's key strategic partners in East Asia. An Agreement on the Promotion and Mutual Protection of Investments has been in force since 2015. “Since the first years of independence, Kazakhstan has relied on ensuring economic growth through the creation of favorable conditions for foreign investors. Japan is one of the largest investors in Kazakhstan. From 2005 to 2017, gross inflow of direct investments from Japan to Kazakhstan amounted to more than $5 billion,” Kabikenov said. In turn, Vice-Minister for International Affairs of the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan Tadao Yanase stressed that Japanese companies are interested in investing in Kazakhstan. Deputy Chairman of the Japan-Kazakhstan Economic Commission, adviser to ITOCHU Corporation, Toshiyuki Kosugi, said that their company has been importing industrial equipment, oilfield chemicals and fibers into Kazakhstan, but noted that the investment environment in Kazakhstan is
undergoing significant changes. “Now is the time to implement new initiatives in line with our development strategy,” he said. “Last year, the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan adopted the program ‘Digital Kazakhstan,’ and I would like us to manage to form concrete bilateral relations in many directions in the near future.” A number of agreements on cooperation were signed at the forum. Chairman of the Kazakh Invest Board Saparbek Tuyakbaev and the Vice-Chairman of the Marubani Corporation, the fifth-largest Japanese trading company with leading market shares in cereal and
paper pulp trading as well as a strong electrical and industrial plant business, Yamadzoe Shigeru, signed a Memorandum of Understanding and common cooperation on the development of urban transport in Almaty. "At present, in Almaty, within the framework of the PPP scheme [publicprivate partnership], we are working on the implementation of a project to build a light rail system. In addition to solving the problems related to construction, operation, maintenance and financing, we are working to create a digital infrastructure, considering LRT as an integral part of urban planning, and thus striving
to provide comfortable living conditions for our citizens,” Shigeru said. In addition, a Memorandum of Understanding and Cooperation was signed for the implementation of a pilot project in heat and water supply systems between JSC KazCenter HUS, Mitsui & Co, and Japan system Planing. A Memorandum on Cooperation was also signed in nuclear energy between Kazakhstan Nuclear Power Plants and the Japan Atomic Power Company, Marubeni Utility Services. As of May 1, 77 legal entities, branches and representative offices with Japanese participation were registered in Kazakhstan.