საქმიანობის სფეროები

Energy

In recent years Georgia has fully deregulated its electricity sector, and now there is free and open access to the market. However, state-owned actors still play an important role, most notably in generating.

In 2007, Georgia generated 8.34 billion kilowatthours (Bkwh) of electricity while consuming 8.15 Bkwh. Most of Georgia's electricity generation comes from hydroelectric facilities. In 2005, the country generated 6,17 Bkwh of hydropower, or 86% of total electricity generation. In 2006 rapid growth in hydroelectricity output (by 27%) was matched by equally strong growth in thermal electricity (by 28%). Since then the share of hydropower has grown even bigger, when Inguri power plant reached full capacity in November 2007. In addition to state-owned Inguri, which has an installed capacity of 1,300 megawatts, Georgia's hydroelectric infrastructure consists of many small private plants.

Georgia's reliance on hydropower leaves the country vulnerable to climatic fluctuations, which requires imports to meet seasonal shortages, but also opens the possibility of exports during wetter conditions. Georgia still has the potential to increase hydro-generated power, through refurbishing existing facilities, as well as constructing new hydropower plants.

Before 2004 Georgia's transmission network was in critical condition, with electricity blackouts being common throughout the country. Since late 2005, distribution has been much more reliable, approaching consistent 24-hour-a-day services. Investments in infrastructure have been made as well. Currently, a privately-owned Energo-Pro Georgia controls 62.5% of the electricity distribution market.

Georgia has transmission lines that connect its power grid to Russia, Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan. In July 2008 Georgia began exporting electricity to Russia through the Kavkasioni power line.

Georgian Natural gas consumption stood at 1.8 billion cubic meters in 2007. Natural gas used to be supplied to Georgia by Russia. In recent years, however, Georgia has been able to eliminate its dependency on imports from Russia, thanks to increased hydroelectricity production, and the availability of natural gas sources from Azerbaijan.

In addition, all Russian gas exports to Armenia pass through the Georgian pipeline system. Georgia takes 10% of that gas as a transit fee.

Georgia is a partner country of the EU INOGATE energy programme, which has four key topics: enhancing energy security, convergence of member state energy markets on the basis of EU internal energy market principles, supporting sustainable energy development, and attracting investment for energy projects of common and regional interest.

Agriculture

Currently, about 55% of the total labor force is employed in agriculture, though much of this is subsistence farming.

Georgian agricultural production is beginning to recover following the devastation caused by the civil unrest and the necessary restructuring following the breakup of the Soviet Union. Livestock production is beginning to rebound, although it continues to be confronted by minor and sporadic disease outbreaks. Domestic grain production is increasing, and will require sustained political and infrastructure improvements to ensure appropriate distribution and revenues to farmers. Tea, hazelnut and citrus production have suffered greatly as a result of the conflict in Abkhazia, a crucial area for planting the latter crops.

Georgian Fields

While approximately 13.1% of the Georgian GDP is generated by the agrarian sector, crops often spoil in the field because farmers can't sell their goods because of high transportation cost, which make domestic goods more expensive than imported goods. In collaboration with European assistance, Georgia has taken steps to control the quality of natural spring water and how to appropriately sell it.

Viticulture and winemaking are the most important fields of Georgia’s agriculture. Over 450 species of local vine are bred in Georgia, and the country is considered as one of the oldest places of producing top-quality wines in the world. Russia was traditionally the biggest export market for Georgian wine. This, however, changed in 2006, when Russia banned imports of wine and mineral water from Georgia. Since then Georgian wine producers have struggled to maintain output and break into new markets.

In 2007 Georgia sold 11 million bottles of wine in about 40 countries, less than it sold in Russia alone before the ban was imposed. Total wine sales abroad in 2007 were down by about nine million bottles, forcing many vineyards to sell land, buildings and equipment to survive.

Construction

The transition to legal construction is not without pain. On July 20, 2007 fire brigades had begun demolishing a 13-story building in downtown Tbilisi that had gone up before the reform and was now in danger of collapsing because of faulty engineering. The building had no project or operating license—and didn’t even show up in the city plan. To avoid the many approval procedures, the building company had simply paid off the mayor.

Turism

Bakuriani: Famous mountain resort in Georgia, located in the Borjomi gorge at 1,700 meters above sea level.

Gudauri: Popular Resort in Georgia (2,000 meters), 120 km from Tbilisi, which is considered one of the best tourist destinations for skiing in the country.

Gudauri

Batumi: located 350 kilometers from Tbilisi, on the Black Sea coast and 15 kilometers from the Turkish border. Batumi is a very popular and attractive to those seeking sun and sand. There is a botanical garden in the northern part of town where you can also find tropical plants. Batumi is a center of tea and citrus.

Black Sea Coast

Likani: This is another reference resorts near the Borjomi and Bakuriani, located in the Borjomi region 20 kilometers from the capital and northern Trialeti.

Sairme: located 55 miles south of Kutaisi, in the gorge Tsablari. What characterizes this complex are mainly mineral waters, known since the late nineteenth century.

Tskaltubo: Located in Tskaltubo gorge, six miles northwest of Kutaisi, 235 miles from Tbilisi and 70 of the Black Sea. Tskaltubo mineral waters consist of a pure chemical unit.

Kobuleti: Located in the Black Sea coast.
Source: Wikipedia