🇬🇪↔️🇷🇺 Georgia is increasing its energy and economic dependence on Russia.

In the first quarter of 2023, according to Sakstat, the country increased the volume of trade with Russia to $667 million. According to this indicator, Russia is Georgia's second trading partner after Turkey (China is in third place).
📍 Export from Georgia to Russia increased by 61% (up to $177 million):
Ferroalloys $45m (+41%)
Natural grape wines $38M (+52%)
Cars $22M (+9500%)
Mineral and fresh water $16 million (+14%)
Alcoholic drinks $13M (+160%)
📍 Import from Russia to Georgia increased by 79% (up to $490 million):
Oil and oil products $168 million (+273%) - 67% of all oil imports
Natural gas $75m (+114%)
Wheat flour $13 million (+30%) - 98% of all flour imports
Wheat $12 million (+33%) - 99% of all wheat imports
Coal $12 million (+2300%)

🇬🇪🏒🇭🇷 Yesterday the Georgian national hockey team sensationally defeated Croatia in the match of the second division of the world championship.

The game ended with the score 6-0 in favor of the Georgian team. Oliver Obolgogiani, whose daughter was born yesterday, arrived at the stadium only an hour before the match. And he was recognized as the best player of the match. Earlier, the Georgian national team defeated Iceland 4-1, Israel 7-3 and lost 0-2 to Spain, the hosts.
ℹ️ If they will beat Australia in the last game, then there is every chance at the end of the tournament to get the right to move to a higher class group: the first hockey division.

🎫 From 12.00 24.04. ticket sales for The Killers concert, which will be held in Shekvetili at the Black Sea Arena, have started.

The performance will take place on 15.08.2023
Sales website: https://bsa.ge/en/events
Prices range from 100 to 500 lari ($40-200).
ℹ️ 6 concerts are planned for 2023 as part of the Starring Georgia promotion. A series of events will open on August 5 with a concert by Nile Rodgers, and end on August 31 with a performance by Imagine Dragons in Tbilisi.

🇬🇪❤️ Popular American videographers have prepared a video "Georgia in 8K" about the country's tourism potential.

“Join us on an unforgettable journey through the stunning country of Georgia, the birthplace of wine. From the rugged mountains to the rolling hills, and from the charming towns to the bustling cities, Georgia offers a unique blend of old-world charm and modern convenience. Follow us through Tbilisi, the capital city of Georgia. With its cobbled streets, ancient churches, Mtskheta monasteries, the Martvili Canyon, into with incredible and diverse vineyards all over the country, the mesmerizing mountains of Mestia and sunrises in Ushguli” the video description says.

📹 Video Jacob + Katie Schwarz

🇬🇪❤️🌱 Spring in Georgia.

Be careful, after watching the video, you may urgently want to visit a similar village in Samegrelo.
📹 Great video by Mirian Tedoradze

📊 The most important and interesting results of the sociological survey conducted in Georgia by the international republican US Institute (IRI).

📍People whose opinions are listened to:
Patriarch Ilia II 91%, Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze 52%, Georgian President Salome Zurabishvili 48%, Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili 43%, ex-Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia and ex-President Mikheil Saakashvili 36%
📍89% support EU, 80% support NATO
📍Return of direct flights from Russia: 48% support, 46% do not support, 6% did not answer
📍Attitude towards Russian citizens: 13% support visa-free entry, 7% support their business registration, 4% support their purchase of real estate, 79% oppose all these points for Russians in the country
📍Main threat countries: Russia 87%, USA and Turkey 8% each, Iran, Armenia and Azerbaijan 3% each
📍Main partners (multiple answers were allowed): European Union 65%, USA 47%, Ukraine 27%, Turkey 18%, Azerbaijan 16%, Russia 8%
📍Saakashvili's transfer to a foreign clinic: 61% support, 33% against, 6% no answer
ℹ️ The data was collected through personal interviews. The sample included 1500 respondents. The results were selected by age, gender, region. The error is +/- 2.5%

💵📉 The dollar exchange rate in Georgia fell below 2.5 GEL/$1 for the first time in five years.

The National Bank of Georgia set the exchange rate for April 28 at 2.4991 GEL/$1.
The last time the dollar was below this level was in August 2018. Only in 2023 the national currency exchange rate strengthened by 7.4%. I remember that in May 2021 the rate was 3.41 gel for $1.
❓ Very often I get questions about what can happen next with the lari? Most local and European experts say that the Georgian currency will not have strong fluctuations. If there are no strong external influences, then this year the exchange rate will remain at the level of 2.3-2.6 lari per $1.
💶 The cost of the euro is 2.7605 gel.

🚘❌ The Georgian government plans to restrict the import of cars manufactured before 2013 into the country.

This was one of the issues discussed at the meeting of the Economic Council. According to the government administration, we are talking about the mandatory introduction of the Euro-5 standard for cars, according to which, from 2024, the import of cars below the Euro-5 standard will be limited. The regulation will apply to cars manufactured before 2013.
ℹ️ Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Nino Tandilashvili clarified that “the imposition of restrictions will not apply to cars that enter the country for the purpose of re-export. The ban applies only to the import of cars that will be used in Georgia.” According to her, the regulation will come into force in 2024.