Page 49 - GEORptDec20

9.1.6 ​Property sector news
Abandoned rural homes now instant sellers in Georgia as city dwellers unsettled by coronavirus turn to remote working
Abandoned rural homes have reportedly become an instant seller in Georgia as the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has lifted demand for out-of-town retreats.
Lekso Charkviani is said to be a man on a mission to revive forsaken villages. Moved by the plight of his own village, whose population has shrunk to a few families, Charkviani, according to a Thomson Reuters Foundation by phone.report, roams mountain roads in the former Soviet republic searching for deserted houses with character and a bit of land—and finds new owners for them.
“This is what I love to do when I have time,” the 45-year-old engineer, who has sold more than 70 properties in the Racha-Lechkhumi region in the last two years via his Facebook page “The Lost Eden”, was quoted as saying. Charkviani, who says he does not make any money from the sales, added: “I can’t stop—like a man who loves fishing and hunting.”
The reality of the coronavirus has boosted interest in rural and suburban living around the globe. People pursue larger homes suitable for remote working in cheaper, less crowded locations. There, they feel less at risk of infection. Charkviani finds a suitable property, tracks down the owners and, if they are willing to sell, posts their contact details online along with a video of the property, the news agency report added, citing him as also saying: “After the pandemic, many people from the city realised they need a village house as shelter, a place where you are always welcome to escape to in case of necessity.
“Before I used to get 150 to 200 messages a day; now I get about 500.” Charkviani said the houses he has discovered have sold for 2,000 Georgian lari ($654) to $17,000.
9.1.7 ​Healthcare sector news
EBRD extends €​25mn loan to private operator Georgian Healthcare Group amid pandemic
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has agreed to provide a $25mn loan to LSE-listed Georgian Healthcare Group (GHG), Georgia's largest, integrated healthcare services, pharmacy and medical insurance provider.
The financing was approved as part of the development bank's response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,​ ​the EBRD said​.
The loan is to finance GHG's short-term working capital and spending deemed critical amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to an official statement from the EBRD, GHG has an important state-aligned role in the fight against the health emergency. The company has adapted six large hospitals to meet needs of virus-infected patients in line with World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.
The financing will support the implementation of COVID-19 testing at the country’s most advanced medical laboratory, at Megalab. It is also funded by the EBRD.
The growing number of coronavirus (COVID-19) cases is putting healthcare systems in Central and Southeast Europe under intense pressure. As cases continue to rise, there are reports of field hospitals being set up and retired medical personnel and students being brought in to make up staff shortfalls.
Europe has again become the global hotspot for the spread of the virus, accounting for 1.7mn of the 3.4mn new cases reported worldwide in the week
49​ GEORGIA Country Report ​December 2020 ​ ​www.intellinews.com