2021-02-25
Today's Government meeting at the Administration of the Government was held under the chairmanship of Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili.
Statements Made by the Prime Minister of Georgia at the Executive Government Meeting
Inter-city transport will resume operation from today and will be running on weekends as well. Also, ski resort hotels will reopen in full compliance with epidemic norms and regulations from today. Municipal transport will operate throughout the country including the weekends. It was announced by Irakli Garibashvili, Prime Minister of Georgia at the Executive Government Meeting today.
He spoke in detail about the plan developed for a gradual lifting of COVID restrictions.
"In line with the pre-defined plan, following will gradually resume operation: air lifts at ski resorts, public and private pre-school care institutions, higher education institutions and vocational training centers. Restaurants will be permitted to admit customers indoors, except for weekends. Retail trade - not only groceries - will be allowed to operate on weekends as well. Libraries, museums, extracurricular school groups, theatres and professional ensembles, gyms and others will gradually reopen. I wish to once again underline that any easing or lifting of any COVID restriction is a responsibility to be borne by all of us, of course. I also wish to use this opportunity and urge my fellow citizens to demonstrate extra care for the referred easing, as Government needs a sound coordination, support and assistance from the population as well to make sure that progress achieved so far through the most effective management of the Minister of Health is maintained, strengthened and improved, thereby avoiding any deterioration of situation. Hence, this issue requires sound coordination and support through a joint effort of the population and authorities. We constantly monitor the current epidemic situation in the country and will be easing the restrictions on the grounds of routine analysis" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Irakli Garibashvili also spoke about the restrictions set for importers of vehicles and noted that the deadline for customs clearance of cars imported from October 1, 2019 to May 1, 2020 will be deferred to June 1, 2021.
"You may well be aware that the deadline for the customs clearance of cars imported to the territory of Georgia from October 1, 2019 to May 1, 2020 was earlier deferred to March 1, 2021. We now made a decision to further defer the deadline to June 1, 2021. This measure applies to about 19 000 car-owners. It is important to note that interest on penalties will be waived of them as well. I believe that this decision will incentivize the development in the sector and assist it in the post-pandemic stage to recover quickly and re-bounce back to the original indicators witnessed in recent years" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
The Head of Government of Georgia also spoke about a comprehensive State-Owned Enterprise (SOE) Reform and noted that SOE Reform Council is being created to develop the strategy of the referred reform agenda.
"Our Government is actively working on a comprehensive SOE Reform, which is aimed at the approximation with the highest standards of their corporate governance. This is a reform of European type, which is based on the best European standards and practice. The referred strategy and initiative is actively supported by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Our other partner organizations, including the World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB), are also engaged in the process. SOE Reform is aimed at exiting the crisis caused by the pandemic and further economic growth of our country. We are establishing the SOE Reform Council with this exact aim to successfully implement the reform. It will design and develop the SOE Reform Strategy and an Action Plan, thereby ensuring and monitoring the implementation of the initiative at every stage.
We believe that SOEs in Georgia have a sufficient potential to play a leading role in the development of respective sectors of the economy. Reform will enable us to achieve a progress in the effectiveness of the SOE sector in the country to make an increased contribution to the economic performance, improvement of business climate, reduced pressure on fiscal space and risk reduction" noted the Prime Minister of Georgia.
The Head of Government of Georgia nominated David Zalkaliani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Georgia and Ivane Matchavariani, Minister of Finance of Georgia to serve as two new Deputy Prime Ministers.
Press Service of the Government Administration