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The News in Brief

Monday, October 6
Georgia’s record: Farmers earn 115m GEL by selling grapes

Georgian farmers from the country's eastern area are enjoying the benefits of a bumper harvest after earning 115 million GEL by selling 155,000 tons of grapes this year.

The country’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili visited the Kakheti region - the leading production area of national wine - with cabinet members yesterday, where he participated in a traditional grape harvest.

The PM said the 2014 grape harvest was an "unprecedented event” as it was the first time "this huge amount” of money was earned by grape growers.

"The most important thing is that this is a great motivation that stimulates farmers. New vineyards have already been planted on the area of 4,000 hectares which indicates the motivation and wish of farmers to plant vineyards,” Garibashvili said.

"There are families that received 10, 20, 50 and 100 thousand GEL. This is a great help for their village," he said.

During his Kakheti visit, the PM attended various events dedicated to Georgian Wine Day. This year was the first year Georgia’s traditional drink had its own day after the PM proposed the idea in February at the presentation of the Wine Culture Research Project at Georgia’s National Museum.

From this year and looking ahead, Georgian Wine Day will be celebrated annually on October 4.

The festivities, which included a traditional horserace, were held at the Alaverdi Monastery Complex where wine was also created.

Georgia is one of the oldest wine regions in the world. The fertile valleys of the South Caucasus, which Georgia straddles, are believed by many archaeologists to be the source of the world's first cultivated grapevines and Neolithic wine production over 8,000 years ago.

The traditional Georgian style of winemaking using qvevri clay jars was listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage lists.
(agenda.ge)



Provisional report of Erosi Kitsmarishvili’ case to be published next week

A Provisional report of Erosi Kitsmarishvili’ case will be published next week.

As Erosi Kitsmarishvili’s brother Zura Kitsmarishvili said, he had met with representatives of the prosecutor’s office and discussed this issue.

According to reports, Zura Kitsmarishvili and a lawyer of Kitsmarishvili family's lawyer will monitor the investigation process from today.

Erosi Kitsmarishvili was found shot to death on July 15 in his car at the Tbilisi apartment block where he lived. Investigators said a gun found next to Kitsmarishvili's body belonged to him. His family and friends insist that he was not suicidal. Investigation is underway under article 115 (bringing to the point of suicide) of the Criminal Code of Georgia.
(Frontnews)



Man commits suicide in Tbilisi metro

A man, 50, committed suicide in the metro of Georgian capital of Tbilisi on Oct. 4.

He jumped under a train, which was entering the Three Hundred Aragvian Station, Tbilisi Emergency Management Office said.

Doctors and rescuers, who arrived at the incident site, confirmed that the man was dead.

A criminal case was launched into the incident. This is the second case of suicide in the Tbilisi metro. Earlier, a man, 27, committed suicide in the metro. According to unofficial information, the man has recently lost money gambling at a casino.
(trend.az)



Georgia, China projrect of Great Silk Road forum

Georgian ambassador to China David Aptsiauri met with China’s Prime Minister Li Keqiang during the events marking the 65th anniversary of founding of the People’s Republic of China.

During the meeting, the ambassador talked about the positive dynamics in the Georgian-Chinese relations and the prospects for cooperation under the new Great Silk Road project, Georgian Foreign Ministry told Trend on Oct.3.

He emphasized the significance of the initiative put forward by Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili during the UN General Assembly session about the creation of the Great Silk Road forum in Tbilisi in 2015.

Chinese prime minister, for his part, emphasized the fruitful cooperation between the two countries and praised the recent visit of Georgia’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Giorgi Kvirikashvili to the country.
(trend.az)



Georgia’s President celebrates Day of German Unity

Georgia's President Giorgi Margvelashvili attended a festive reception dedicated to the Day of German Unity at the Sheraton Hotel on October 3rd.

President Margvelashvili congratulated the German people and its government on the 25th anniversary of the fall of the Berlin Wall and subsequent Day of German Unity.

He delivered a speech that highlighted this was an important day in the history of Europe, because dismantling the Berlin Wall and uniting Germany encouraged peace, prosperity and stability of the region.

"This process had a significant impact on our state as well as the entire region. On behalf of Georgia I want to thank Germany for its support,” Margvelashvili said.

"Germany was one of the first countries which recognized the independence of Georgia. Germany was one of the first which opened an Embassy in Georgia and by doing this, this began close diplomatic cooperation between our two countries. We are always striving towards the European family and nothing can resist this aspiration”, Margvelashvili said.

The reception event to mark the Day of German Unity was attended by members of the Georgian Government, representatives of the legislative body, diplomatic corps and representatives of the Germans living in Georgia.

Meanwhile, the Day of German Unity was a national day in Germany that was celebrated each year on October 3 as a public holiday. It commemorated the anniversary of German reunification in 1990, when the goal of a unified Germany, which originated in the middle of the 19th century, was rekindled and re-established.
(agenda.ge)



State grants encourage innovation and technology in Georgia

The Innovation and Technology Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development is starting three new grant projects to support talented people and commercialize innovations and technology.

The grants will promote establishment of high-tech start-up companies.

At a special conference today, Deputy Minister of Economy Dimitri Kumsiashvili noted the grants will also ensure the development innovative and technological infrastructure in the country.

"Within the grant programs two laboratories of industrial innovation will be formed [at] universities, which will be fitted with the newest high-tech equipment. [The successful] universities will be selected by an independent board,” he said.

Overall, 1.8 million GEL will be allocated to the three grant projects. In addition, mini-grants amounting to 50,000 will be allocated to an additional for 20 projects.

Before the funds are awarded, each application will be reviewed by international and local experts and based on their conclusion, the final decision will be made by an independent grant board independent from the agency.

"Grant programs should contribute to the emergence of market-oriented products and companies and stimulate export-oriented high-tech products in Georgia,” Kumsiashvili noted.

Anyone willing to participate in the project will be able to download the grant application forms from the Ministry of Economy website from October 6. Applications will be accepted until November 6.
(agenda.ge)