Construction Sector in Georgia
Tuesday, January 22
In the first half of 2018, construction sector decreased by 0.3. Decreased number of permits issued for the increase of K2 coefficient caused this reduction. As a result, the share of the construction sector in Georgia’s economy has decreased from 9.3% (2017) to 8.6%.
71 600 contracted employees work in GEL 1 461 is an average nominal monthly salary in the construction sector and this figure is only behind average salary in the finance sector. The fast growth of construction sector leads to higher salaries. Since 2010, an average nominal salary has doubled in this sector.
The Georgian parliament approved the Code for Architecture and Construction in July 2018, which will come in full play in 2022. The Government of Georgia must adopt 14 decrees regarding the code. Local municipalities were given time until January 1, 2028 for architectural plans..
According to the World Bank’s Doing Business Index, Georgia ranked #27 in the world in terms of construction regulations. The World Bank considers quality control of constructions the weakest sides of Georgia.
At the end of 2017, Tbilisi City Hall’s zoning council was abolished and its functions were transferred to Urban Development Service of Tbilisi City Hall. As a result, a number of permits issued for the increase of K2 coefficient decreased. In the first half of 2018, only 53 permits were issued.
In 2014-2016, compared with 2009-2013, permits for a possibility to raise K2 coefficient increases corruption risks, which is directly reflected in connections of the members of Tbilisi City Hall zoning council with the construction business and politicians increase of K2 coefficient has increased by 54%.
According to the census conducted in 2014, Tbilisi was the most densely populated territory in Georgia with 2 199 persons living on one km2 on average. 79% of construction permits were issued for living purpose.
There are many large, medium and small enterprises. There are 43 large, 281 medium and 6 620 small enterprises in this sector. Although 43% of employees work in small enterprises, salaries are two times higher in large enterprises construction sector. There are no signs of monopoly or oligopoly in the construction market.
Real estate sales have a growth trend. In 2017, sales increased by 11%. The highest growth rate (34%) was in Adjara, mainly in Batumi.
In 54% of ongoing constructions are located in these districts too. Tbilisi's 43% of real estate sales are concentrated in Saburtalo and Vake.
During the last three years, real estate prices have been stable In Tbilisi. The prices in USD have increased only by 1.6% and by 7% - in GEL. In Tbilisi, the most expensive real estate (USD 1 124 per 1 m2) is in Mtatsminda district and the cheapest one is in Samgori (USD 547).
Another interesting issue is In 2017, 63% of public procurement was spent on construction works. participation of large construction companies in public procurement and their links with politics, including donations made in favor of political parties.
Companies connected with political donors often win public contracts through Before 2012, all large construction companies, except those that were linked with Bidzina Ivanishvili, have been donating to the UNM. Since 2012, after the change of government, construction companies have not donated anything to the UNM. However, some of them became donors of the GD - new ruling party. During 2011-2018, construction companies, which had a status of a large enterprise as of 1 November 2018, have donated up to GEL 2 million to various political parties. During the same period, these companies have received GEL 700 million from public tenders and GEL 90 million – through simplified public procurement. simplified procurement process. This contains corruption risks.
(TI)