Page 50 - GEORptMay20

capacity.
However, the Poti port expansion needs extra land to build the new terminal. The lad was subject to an administrative dispute between the economy ministry and APM. On January 28, APM Terminals released another announcement on the project. The company argued that the project would significantly increase turnover at Poti.
9.1.6 ​Health sector news
The European Investment Bank (EIB) plans to allocate €200mn for the development of healthcare infrastructure in Georgia, as well as the support of the country’s fiscal and other needs amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, according to the Georgian government.
Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia discussed the possibilities of EIB financial support and increasing the volume of the operations of the European Union’s development bank in Georgia during a video conference with the vice president of the EIB Liliana Pavlova.
Gakharia underscored the importance of international financial support for Georgia in response to the pandemic and thanked the EIB for its active cooperation with Georgian public and private sectors.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Maia Tskitishvili, Finance Minister Ivane Matchavariani and economic advisor to the PM Beka Liluashvili also joined the video conference.
Georgia reported its first case of coronavirus on February 26, making it the​ ​first Caucasus country to confirm a case of the deadly virus. ​ ​Health
Minister Ekaterine Tikaradze said an infected Georgian man, who was travelling from Iran via Azerbaijan, was hospitalised upon entry to the country. Earlier, Georgia closed its borders to Iranians entering, following the outbreak in that country, but remained open to citizens of nearby Azerbaijan and returning nationals.
Thanks to early travel ban restrictions and the isolation of infected people, Georgia by April 22 had only 408 COVID-19 cases (with 307 active cases), with four related deaths, among a population of 3.7mn.
9.1.7 ​Agriculture sector news
Swiss chocolate producer Chocolats Camille Bloch plans to set up hazelnut plantations in Georgia to produce crops dedicated to the production of its leading Ragusa brand, according to Agenda.ge. Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and CEO of Chocolats Camille Bloch, Daniel Bloch—the son of Camille Bloch who founded the company in 1926—reportedly discussed details of the project on January 23 at a meeting on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Hazelnuts represent Georgia’s largest agricultural export by value and support the livelihoods of more than 50,000 growers and processors.
Bloch already has a registered company in Georgia and has identified a 561-hectare land asset in Lagodekhi municipality, eastern Georgia.
The company aims to cultivate hazelnuts using new technology to raise productivity.
It is planning to employ around 40 people in its project.
Chocolats Camille Bloch produces 3,700 tonnes of chocolate per year. The annual revenue of the company stands at more than $45mn.
Gazelle Fund, an investment fund dedicated to high-growth, small and
50​ GEORGIA Country Report ​May 2020 ​​www.intellinews.com