The News in Brief
Thursday, April 21
Georgia’s Foreign Trade in Q1’16
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first quarter of 2016 fell by 7%, compared to the same period of last year, to USD 2.14 billion and the trade gap declined by 2.5% year-on-year to USD 1.26 billion, according to figures released by the state statistics office on Tuesday.
Exports were down 11.9% year-on-year in the first three months of 2016 to USD 442.81 million.
Imports declined 5.1% y/y in the first quarter of this year to USD 1.7 billion.
Actual drop in value of imports was even larger, about 16.7%, if excluding one-off import of donated C hepatitis medicines, which stood at roughly USD 208 million in the first quarter.
After subtracting the value of this one-off import, the trade gap last year was down by about 18.5% y/y to USD 1.05 billion.
Georgia’s trade turnover with EU-member states increased 11% y/y in the first quarter of 2016 to USD 712 million. But this increase was caused by one-off imports of medicines from Ireland and after subtracting it, the actual trade turnover stood at USD 503.8 million, a 20.9% decline compared to the first three months of 2015. Excluding one-offs, imports from the EU were down 15.8% y/y to USD 392.8 million in the first quarter.
Georgia’s exports to the EU declined 34.7% y/y to USD 111 million, accounting for about 25% of country’s total exports in the first three months of 2016, according to Geostat.
Trade turnover with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) declined by 15% y/y to USD 574 million in the first quarter of 2016.
Georgia’s exports to CIS member states were down by 26% y/y to USD 129 million, accounting for 29% of country’s total exports. Imports from the CIS-member states were down by 11% y/y to USD 445 million, accounting for 26% of Georgia’s total imports.
Georgia’s trade turnover with its long-time largest trading partner Turkey stood at USD 341.8 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 5.3% decline compared to the same period of last year. Georgian exports to Turkey declined by 22.6% y/y to USD 49.9 million and imports were down by 8.8% y/y to USD 291.8 million.
One-off imports of medicine made Ireland Georgia’s second largest trading partner with USD 209.7 million, but after excluding these one-off imports, Turkey is followed by Russia with USD 185 million trade turnout in the first quarter of 2016, a 8.7% y/y increase.
Exports to Russia increased 41.5% y/y to USD 38.5 million and imports were up 2.5% y/y to USD 146.5 million in the first three months of this year.
Russia is followed by China with trade turnover of USD 168.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 12.1% y/y decline.
Georgia’s exports to China more than doubled to USD 49.6 million, due to an almost 2.5-fold y/y increase in export of copper ores, which stood at 46.3 million in the first three months of 2016. Imports from China declined 29.3% y/y to USD 119 million.
China is followed by Azerbaijan with a USD 160 million trade turnover in the first quarter of 2016, which is a 25.2% y/y decline. There was a 3.5-fold y/y decline in Georgian exports to Azerbaijan to USD 17.7 million in the first three months of 2016. Imports from Azerbaijan were down by 5.5% y/y to USD 142.3 million.
Copper ores and concentrates were on top of the list of exports in the first quarter of 2016 with USD 84.1 million, 37.7% y/y increase; followed by re-export of cars – USD 37.6 million (34.8% y/y decline); hazelnut – 33 million (36.1% y/y decline); ferroalloys – USD 26.79 million (44.4% y/y decline); nitrogen fertilizers – USD 23.2 million (3.2% y/y decline); mineral waters – USD 19.3 million (14.6% y/y decline); wine – USD 19.2 million (23.7% increase); medicines – USD 19 million (24.5% y/y decline); raw or semi-processed gold – USD 17.7 million (40% y/y increase); non-denatured ethyl alcohol and spirits – USD 17.1 million (74.7% increase).
One-off import of donated C hepatitis drug pushed value of imported medicines on top of the list of Georgian imports with USD 259.5 million in the first three months of 2016; followed by hydrocarbons – USD 124.2 million; cars – USD 99.3 million; oil products – USD 93 2 million; copper ores and concentrates – USD 78.5 million; mobile and other wireless phones – USD 26.7 million; cigarettes – USD 20.5 million; structures and parts of structures of iron – USD 18.1 million; power transformers – USD 17.1 million; electricity – USD 14.7 million. (Civil.ge)
Georgia may end compulsory military service in 2017: Defense minister
Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli says compulsory military service may be abolished from 2017.
“This is my decision as Minister of Defence,” she told Channel 1 on Tuesday.
“If another leader comes to this office, naturally, that decision may be changed.”
The minister thinks a system with voluntary military service is much more effective.
She recalled her first hearing at the Defence and Security committee in Parliament, where she said that she would abolish conscription, and though the ministry has already decided to go forward with the plan, it now needs legislative support.
“This doesn’t mean that it ends the process. Our goal is to introduce a system of voluntary service from 2017,” she said, adding that the same type of system is used in dNATO member states and it brings ‘better results.’
Switching to professional army was one of the promises made by the Georgian Dream government. Irakli Alasania, who was Defence Minister until his dismissal in late 2014, talked about the importance of ending compulsory military service. When she took over the same position, Tina Khidasheli declared her support for the idea. (DF watch)
Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in the first quarter of 2016 fell by 7%, compared to the same period of last year, to USD 2.14 billion and the trade gap declined by 2.5% year-on-year to USD 1.26 billion, according to figures released by the state statistics office on Tuesday.
Exports were down 11.9% year-on-year in the first three months of 2016 to USD 442.81 million.
Imports declined 5.1% y/y in the first quarter of this year to USD 1.7 billion.
Actual drop in value of imports was even larger, about 16.7%, if excluding one-off import of donated C hepatitis medicines, which stood at roughly USD 208 million in the first quarter.
After subtracting the value of this one-off import, the trade gap last year was down by about 18.5% y/y to USD 1.05 billion.
Georgia’s trade turnover with EU-member states increased 11% y/y in the first quarter of 2016 to USD 712 million. But this increase was caused by one-off imports of medicines from Ireland and after subtracting it, the actual trade turnover stood at USD 503.8 million, a 20.9% decline compared to the first three months of 2015. Excluding one-offs, imports from the EU were down 15.8% y/y to USD 392.8 million in the first quarter.
Georgia’s exports to the EU declined 34.7% y/y to USD 111 million, accounting for about 25% of country’s total exports in the first three months of 2016, according to Geostat.
Trade turnover with Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) declined by 15% y/y to USD 574 million in the first quarter of 2016.
Georgia’s exports to CIS member states were down by 26% y/y to USD 129 million, accounting for 29% of country’s total exports. Imports from the CIS-member states were down by 11% y/y to USD 445 million, accounting for 26% of Georgia’s total imports.
Georgia’s trade turnover with its long-time largest trading partner Turkey stood at USD 341.8 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 5.3% decline compared to the same period of last year. Georgian exports to Turkey declined by 22.6% y/y to USD 49.9 million and imports were down by 8.8% y/y to USD 291.8 million.
One-off imports of medicine made Ireland Georgia’s second largest trading partner with USD 209.7 million, but after excluding these one-off imports, Turkey is followed by Russia with USD 185 million trade turnout in the first quarter of 2016, a 8.7% y/y increase.
Exports to Russia increased 41.5% y/y to USD 38.5 million and imports were up 2.5% y/y to USD 146.5 million in the first three months of this year.
Russia is followed by China with trade turnover of USD 168.7 million in the first quarter of 2016, a 12.1% y/y decline.
Georgia’s exports to China more than doubled to USD 49.6 million, due to an almost 2.5-fold y/y increase in export of copper ores, which stood at 46.3 million in the first three months of 2016. Imports from China declined 29.3% y/y to USD 119 million.
China is followed by Azerbaijan with a USD 160 million trade turnover in the first quarter of 2016, which is a 25.2% y/y decline. There was a 3.5-fold y/y decline in Georgian exports to Azerbaijan to USD 17.7 million in the first three months of 2016. Imports from Azerbaijan were down by 5.5% y/y to USD 142.3 million.
Copper ores and concentrates were on top of the list of exports in the first quarter of 2016 with USD 84.1 million, 37.7% y/y increase; followed by re-export of cars – USD 37.6 million (34.8% y/y decline); hazelnut – 33 million (36.1% y/y decline); ferroalloys – USD 26.79 million (44.4% y/y decline); nitrogen fertilizers – USD 23.2 million (3.2% y/y decline); mineral waters – USD 19.3 million (14.6% y/y decline); wine – USD 19.2 million (23.7% increase); medicines – USD 19 million (24.5% y/y decline); raw or semi-processed gold – USD 17.7 million (40% y/y increase); non-denatured ethyl alcohol and spirits – USD 17.1 million (74.7% increase).
One-off import of donated C hepatitis drug pushed value of imported medicines on top of the list of Georgian imports with USD 259.5 million in the first three months of 2016; followed by hydrocarbons – USD 124.2 million; cars – USD 99.3 million; oil products – USD 93 2 million; copper ores and concentrates – USD 78.5 million; mobile and other wireless phones – USD 26.7 million; cigarettes – USD 20.5 million; structures and parts of structures of iron – USD 18.1 million; power transformers – USD 17.1 million; electricity – USD 14.7 million. (Civil.ge)
Georgia may end compulsory military service in 2017: Defense minister
Defence Minister Tina Khidasheli says compulsory military service may be abolished from 2017.
“This is my decision as Minister of Defence,” she told Channel 1 on Tuesday.
“If another leader comes to this office, naturally, that decision may be changed.”
The minister thinks a system with voluntary military service is much more effective.
She recalled her first hearing at the Defence and Security committee in Parliament, where she said that she would abolish conscription, and though the ministry has already decided to go forward with the plan, it now needs legislative support.
“This doesn’t mean that it ends the process. Our goal is to introduce a system of voluntary service from 2017,” she said, adding that the same type of system is used in dNATO member states and it brings ‘better results.’
Switching to professional army was one of the promises made by the Georgian Dream government. Irakli Alasania, who was Defence Minister until his dismissal in late 2014, talked about the importance of ending compulsory military service. When she took over the same position, Tina Khidasheli declared her support for the idea. (DF watch)