Page 60 - GEORptNov19

the transport network and establish Georgia as the region's trade and tourism hub.
The highway will comprise of a two-lane, 22.7-km long asphalt-concrete road and will include six bridges and five tunnels, the longest being the 9-km tunnel. The width of the Kvesheti-Kobi tunnel will be 15 m, a size that is rather rare not only in Transcaucasia but throughout the world. A 500m arch bridge will also be constructed on the route.
9.2.5 ​Retail corporate news
Royal Swinkels Family Brewers, a family business from Noord-Brabant in the Netherlands active in the beer, soft drinks and malt sector, has bought 40% of Georgian brewery Argo, thus increasing its share of the Georgian beer market to 15%, InterPressNews.ge​ ​reported​.
The Dutch company imports beer from 22 countries to the Netherlands and exports its own brands from Georgia. Furthermore, Georgia is seen as a logistical hub for Asian and Arab countries, Argus general manager Vasil Sulkhanishvili said.
“The main reason for investing in Georgia is the very promising opportunities of the Georgian company in the European market. The flexible management of the company was also important. But the most important is the creation of a very flexible and attractive investment environment by the Georgian government. This implies that export of products from Georgia will be possible under the Free Trade Agreement. We hope that this agreement is of interest to many European brands and will cooperate with Georgia,” Royal Swinkels Family Brewers CEO Pierre Swinkels said.
An event called to mark the acquisition was attended by representatives of the Swinkels family, general manager of Argo Vasil Sulkhanishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Natia Turnava businessman Temur Chkonia and other guests.
60​ GEORGIA Country Report​ November 2019 ​ ​www.intellinews.com