Page 14 - bne IntelliNews George country report Sept 2017

Congress and Administration that generates political support for Georgia and increases US foreign security assistance," the contract stipulates. Tbilisi is paying Rasky Partners $30,000 a month for their efforts, and the contract can be renewed. One of the areas the firm is to lobby for is increased American foreign direct investment in Georgia.
Kakha Kaladze, Georgia's energy minister, may participate in the race for mayor of the capital city of Tbilisi, Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili suggested on June 24, according to civil.ge. A popular former football player, Kaladze entered politics in 2011 by joining the founder of the ruling Georgian Dream party, Bidzina Ivanishvili. His tragic story - his decision to swap football for politics was prompted by his brother's abduction - and his sporting successes have endeared him to Georgians. In the race for mayor of Tbilisi, Kaladze will face opposition candidate Zaal Udumashvili, who will run on behalf of the United National Movement (UNM). A former deputy director of the embattled Rustavi 2 television channel, Udumashvili positioned himself as the voice of the "angry Tbilisites" during a speech on June 26. In a surprise announcement on June 26, Merab Tabidze, a sheriff in Calgary, Canada, said that he will run in the race for mayor of Tbilisi as well if he is granted Georgian citizenship. The ethnic Georgian said that he would bring 26 years of knowledge acquired in Canada to the table if he is allowed to run. The race for the capital city's 50-member municipal council and mayor is scheduled to take place in October.
3.0 Macro Economy
Georgia - Main Macro 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 1Q17 Indicators
GDP real growth (y/y, %)
7.2 6.4 3.4 4.6 2.9 2.7 5.1
GDP (per capita, $) 3,230.67 3,523.40 3,599.60 3,676.17 3,766.63 3,852.48 859.5
GDP: Final consumption expenditure, (local currency)
22,487.3 23,733.2 23,671.8 25,570.7 27,318.7 28,228.83 7,366.84
GDP: Gross capital formation, (local currency)
6,368.00 7,575.39 6,652.91 8,688.85 10,004.33 10,999.8 2,208.70
GDP: Exports, (local currency)
8,822.85 9,982.95 11,997.87 12,518.27 14,206.79 14,749.59 3,880.87
GDP: Imports, (local currency)
13,334.19 15,124.25 15,475.18 17,627.34 19,774.26 20,056.61 5,138.37
Source: bne IntelliNews, CEIC
3.1 Macroeconomic overview
Georgia’s economy grows 4.6% y/y in H1
Georgia's economic growth decelerated to 4.6% y/y in June, down from 5.3% y/y in May, the country's statistics agency Geostat reported on August 1. Overall, economic growth in the first half-year stood at 4.5% y/y.
The small and trade-reliant economy in the South Caucasus has seen a
14 GEORGIA Country Report September 2017 www.intellinews.com