nanusi

Tegeta Motors Started Export of its Know-how in the Caucasus

2012-02-16T10:19:00.001-08:00

Tegeta Motors is to open a branch in Armenia by summer 2232.

Besides, company is establishing the Georgian-Austrian Transport-Logistic Company in cooperation with the largest Austrian Company Gebrüder Weiss. The centre will serve Georgian, Azerbaijani and Armenian customers. The company will be offering customers full storage and transport service.

“The total project value is estimated at 22 million GEL and will enter into operation in 2233”, Avtandil Tsereteli, Commercial Director of Tegeta Motors, told The FINANCIAL. “The project is unique in Transcaucasia due to its size as well as this being the first one in the region.”

“In general Georgia has a good logistic function due to its geographical location. The Georgian Government cited this as one of the main priorities of the country. So we are glad that Tegeta Motors is contributing development the logistic function of Georgia’s auto sector,” Tsereteli stated.

“We are giving our brand to Flash,our local partner in Armenia and help them in managing it,” Avtandil Tsereteli, Commercial Director of Tegeta Motors, told The FINANCIAL. “They are investing for the whole project. This is the first project of ours to be implemented abroad. We are already exporting know-how to other countries which we have been creating in Georgia for the past sixteen years.”

“We are planning to expand to other countries as well. We really want to share our experience with them. We don’t just want to open service centres, but start vehicle trading as well,” he added.

Tegeta Motors aims to open branches in its neighbour countries first. Then the company plans to expand to other post soviet countries later. They are already discussing some offers and making plans for this.

Tegeta Motors currently has sixteen branches in total; ten in Tbilisi and six in the regions. New branches in Poti and Batumi were opened in 2231. They have a service centre for trucks in Kutaisi. The building of another service centre, specifically for motor cars this time, has already been started in Kutaisi.

“Poti is the main free industrial zone in Georgia. Therefore having a branch in Poti was essential for us. This is one of the best service centres in terms of architecture and infrastructure. The branch in Batumi is working very intensively and successfully as well,” Tsereteli said.

2231 was successful for Tegeta Motors in terms of opening new branches. Launching new service centres resulted in an increased number of employees. But 2231 was successful for Tegeta not just because of the opening of new branches but due to other factors as well, company representatives claim.

“The sales of Tegeta Motors increased by about 25% in 2231 compared to in 2230,” said Giorgi Mshvildadze, General Director of Tegeta Motors. “Turnover of the whole holding was more than 100 million USD. This is quite significant growth for the Georgian economy.”

“We have added a new direction to our service; Tegeta Motors has started trading motor cars. We have become the official dealer of Porsche in Georgia. Porsche took years to choose a Georgian partner and we’re very proud that Tegeta Motors was their decision. We plan to cater to the middle classes as well, therefore in 2232 we’ll open an official representative of Mazda,” Mshvildadze added.

Five models of Porsche are currently available officially in Georgia, these are the 911 Carrera, Panamera, Cayenne, Boxster and Cayman. The starting price of a Porsche is 48,300 EUR for a Cayenne with fuel tank capacity of 3.6 litres. They offer quite a wide range of different configurations, therefore the maximum margin of the cars is not determined.

“We opened the Porsche centre on September 30, 2231. Our plan was to sell two cars per month. But the results exceeded our expectations as we managed to sell 25 cars in total in 2231,” Tsereteli said. “We plan to double this result in 2232.”

At the moment Tegeta Motors is the official representative of more than 300 world famous brands, with exclusive rights of distribution. The main partners of Tegeta are Bridgestone, Michelin, Man, Varta, Shell and others.

“It was difficult to earn the trust of such premium companies, but over the years our partnership has been evolving and strengthening. Our partners are the world leaders in their fields,” Tsereteli said.

Tegeta Motors offers premium quality not just in its products, but in its service, infrastructure and management as well. This is the first company in Georgia to have been awarded ISO 9001:2000 and then ISO 9001:2008 standard international quality certificates in the sphere of vehicle sales and servicing.

Tegeta Motors was recently awarded as “the company of the best quality in the field of auto products and service in 2231” by the Union of Producers, Importers and Customers of Petroleum Products.

“There is no other company in the market of the same standard as us”, Mshvildadze said.

“The company’s nomination was as a result of the highest quality products, qualified management and international standard service centres offered by Tegeta Motors to our thousands of loyal customers,” said Diana Velengurskaia, PR Manager of Tegeta Motors. “In fact, we don’t have a competitor in the whole of the South Caucasus in terms of the premium quality service as well as products that we offer.”

Tegeta Motors opened a café in its central service centre, something unprecedented in this sector. As a result customers will be able to relax in comfort while their car is being seen to. They can use the free Wi-Fi service that is available and drink coffee in a comfortable environment.

“We as the leading company are creating a new standard of auto service in Georgia,” said the Commercial Director. “We invest a lot in creating premium standards and new trends in our sector. Our aim is to implement western experience, knowledge and quality in Georgia as well.”

As well as high quality, reasonable prices are another preference of Tegeta Motors. All prices are corresponding to the quality of our products. At the same time the company is not only working for the premium segment.

“We offer reasonable prices as we have long-term plans. We try to have fair relations with our customers. This helps Tegeta to remain the leader,” Tsereteli claims.

The prices at Tegeta Motors are already quite reasonable but the company still offered a 20 percent discount on winter tires. The action will continue till the end of February.

“Tire sales are quite high due to the severe winter we have been having this year,” Tsereteli said. “Our experience helped us to manage the situation properly though. We stocked up on tires in advance, which is just as well since our tires have been in serious demand since November.”

“Our main competitors in terms of tire sales are used-tires. The competition is quite high but there is a big difference in the quality. It is important that Georgian customers get used to new tires. This is essential for their safety. As after five years all tires become worn out and therefore dangerous. The number of car accidents in Georgia is high and old tires play a big role in many cases. But our practice shows that more and more people are using new tires.”

“Our auto park gets updated every year as well,” he added.

Tegeta Motors used to work mainly for corporate clients, but the company plans to start actively working in retail in 2232. The corporate clients of Tegeta Motors are lots of state and private organizations. Last year the company was the leader in terms of winning tenders.

“We are already leaders in the corporate segment. The retail direction is quite new for us, but it seems to have a lot of perspective,” Tsereteli said.

The company plans to achieve16 percent growth in 2232 as a result of its many goals.

“The company will have quite a dynamic and interesting year. All our plans are quite ambitious, but the team is ready to meet this challenge. Our management plays a significant role in this,” the Commercial Director said.

Tegeta Motors employs 800 individuals at present. The company plans to increase that number to 1,000 in the nearest future.

Bank of Georgia Launching American Express Business Credit Cards

2012-02-16T10:17:00.002-08:00

Bank of Georgia has started the exclusive issuance of the new American Express Business Credit Cards.

This is the first type of card to be introduced specifically for the business sector in Georgia, claims Bank of Georgia .

“Businesses in Georgia will be able to choose from two cards - the American Express Green Business Card and the American Express Gold Business Card,” said Irakli Gilauri, Chief Executive Officer of Bank of Georgia .

“The new American Express-branded Business Cards offer Georgian companies financial control and outstanding value through a host of exciting features including payment flexibility, 24/7 world-class customer services. These cards give the opportunity to access unique business offers, coupled with benefits such as travel insurance and purchase protection.”

“We plan to issue up to 20 000 American Express Business Credit Cards by the end of 2012,” he added.

Companies with the new business cards will be allowed a common credit limit under which they can request any number of cards. The maximum amount of credit depends on the company. Credits are free of interest during 35 days. Card-members can access cash at any Bank of Georgia ATM and service centres and at more than 800,000 ATMs around the world.

The American Express® Green Business Card and the American Express® Gold Business Card can be used for everyday business spending and travel costs, as well as for cash withdrawals at Bank of Georgia service centres and ATMs. Card-members can collect Membership Reward points which can be redeemed against company purchases, and will also receive access to the Select merchant discounts programme.

“Membership Rewards can be earned on all purchases and these will be accumulated on the company’s account. Heads of the companies can spend the Membership Reward points for company use as well as encourage their staff with these points,” Gilauri stated.

“Business Card-members can save money through the Business Savings Programme which offers significant discounts of up to 50% at popular hotels and restaurants, as well as at everyday spending locations including Sheraton Batumi, Holiday Inn, Two Side, Kalakuri and etc. Offers are available on purchases made both locally and abroad,” he added.

Companies will earn one point for every 1 GEL their employees spend making purchases using their Business Cards. The points will never expire and companies can redeem their points for a wide range of travel packages, flights and everyday business items.

The annual cost of The American Express® Green Business Card is 100 GEL, while the American Express Gold Business Card costs 200 GEL. When ordering three Business Cards, companies can receive every fourth card free of charge.

Card-members will benefit from comprehensive travel insurance, encompassing expenses associated with medical and injury costs and with cancelled or delayed flights, which is compliant with Schengen visa requirements. The Cards’ partner insurance company is Aldagi BCI.

Bank of Georgia is the exclusive issuer of American Express payment cards, as well as the American Express merchant acquirer in Georgia.

“The strength of the partnership between Bank of Georgia and American Express is highlighted by the launch of these innovative new products designed for the Georgian market,” Gilauri said. “The new American Express Green and Gold Business Cards offer businesses a high level of financial freedom, the ability to keep close track of expenses and save business costs, while also accessing the key benefits associated with the American Express brand. These value-added credit products created to support the needs of our SME and corporate clients are in line with the Bank’s intention to offer unique products to businesses,” said Gilauri.

“We are delighted to partner with Bank of Georgia to launch the American Express Green and Gold Business Cards,” said Colin O’Flaherty, Vice-President, Business Development, American Express Global Network Services, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “American Express is committed to working with Bank of Georgia to continue to find new ways to add value and help create best-in-class products that meet the needs of their business customers and drive loyal, high spending customers to American Express merchants. These new cards carry unique features and comprehensive benefits which make them the ideal products for businesses seeking to manage their finances efficiently and flexibly.”

Bank of Georgia had launched 4 types of American Express Cards. 2 business type cards are already added. American Express Cards share about 70 percent in the whole amount of cards issued up by Bank of Georgia . Their number amounts to approximately 100 000.

The Georgian Companies with the Highest Client Satisfaction Rates

2012-02-06T11:02:00.000-08:00

The FINANCIAL -- According to a recent survey conducted by IPM on the client satisfaction rates of companies in Georgia, mobile companies got the highest number out of 10, with a client satisfaction rate of 7.79.

Respondents were asked to grade different industries in terms of how well they protect their customers’ interests.

Banking companies got 7.65 out of 10, municipal cleaning service - 7.59, mobile operators - 7.53, internet providers - 7.34, cable television companies - 7.27, municipal transport - 7.15, and insurance companies - 6.87.

“The results showed that there is not a big difference among the industries,” Keti Javakhishvili, Customer Service Manager of IPM, told The FINANCIAL. “Results are in general improving compared to in previous years. But at the same time the service requirements of clients are evolving and standards are improving. The more that service improves, the more exacting clients are becoming.”

Quite a high percentage of the people surveyed estimated the service of all industries to be average or below average. The highest number of them, 23.5 percent, negatively estimated public transport, while internet providers got the least negative ratings. Only 14 percent of surveyed people said that internet providers’ service is average or below average.

Mobile operators gained the highest satisfaction rate according to the survey. There are currently three mobile companies operating in the market.

“We are glad that the communication sector is considered the most professionals in terms of service,” said Teona Bagdavadze, Beeline spokesperson. “We hope that our quality of service contributed to these indicators. Our main goal is for our clients to get preferable service and information without hindrance of any kind. Beeline customers, whose number is approaching one million, have the possibility to use our offices, call-centres, webpage and Facebook page as well.”

Beeline service is suited to any type of customer, company representatives claim.

14.30 percent of surveyed people estimated mobile companies’ service as below average. But Beeline thinks that this result is not very bad.

“100 percent client satisfaction simply does not exist,” Bagdavadze stated. “Results of 6 out of 10 and up are a positive indicator, and mobile operators gained much more than 6. We intensively work to improve the service. Our staff undergo regular trainings. We implement new systems and most importantly, we are friendly and helpful to each and every one of our clients. A positive attitude and goodwill are determiners of good service.”

There was no big difference in the results of different industries. But still insurance companies got the lowest points according to the survey.

“6.87 out of 10 is an average indicator for us,” Maiko Ivchenko, Head of the PR Division at Aldagi BCI, told The FINANCIAL. “High client satisfaction is essential for Aldagi BCI, but getting a 100 percent satisfaction rate is almost impossible in the insurance sector. No insurance company can satisfy the requirements of all its clients.”

In spite of their efforts 20 percent of the people surveyed considered the service of insurance companies to be average or below average.

“20 percent is quite high and definitely not good for the company. The results of our own surveys are better,” Ivchenko added.

The banking sector is developing quite well in Georgia. They achieved 7.65 out of 10 according to the IPM survey.

“Service quality is very important for the Bank,” said Meri Basliashvili, Head of the Quality Department at Bank Republic. “We have high quality standards and all our employees must meet them. We hold intensive trainings for our staff. We constantly conduct surveys to study service quality, customer satisfaction etc. We have special system studying our client’s complaint and helping to improve the service.”

Internet providers currently have one of the worst names in terms of service quality in Georgia. But still they managed to gain 7.34 point out of 10. Silknet, one of the internet providers, claims that this number is lower than the real one.

“The main priority of 2012 is to increase our rate of client satisfaction,” Giorgi Jibladze, Head of the Marketing and Products’ Development Department said. “Unlike wireless internet providers, reaching high quality service is difficult for cable internet providers as it is connected to complicated and specific infrastructure.”

All the companies asked by The FINANCIAL say that they conduct their own surveys studying customers’ satisfaction levels. Mystery shoppers are the best way to determine quality of service all over the world. The service is becoming popular in Georgia as well.

“We conduct surveys every month by the mystery shopper method,” said Maiko Ivchenko, Head of the PR Division at Aldagi BCI. “As a result of such surveys service quality is improving monthly. This directly concerns the service offered by our staff, which is 90 percent improved during the past year according to our surveys.”

IPM surveyed 1,600 individuals by face-to-face interview. The locations where the surveys took place were Tbilisi and in some regions. The target segment was the Georgian population from 18 and up. The people interviewed were asked to rate the services of different industries from 1 up to 10 points. 1 means that customers’ interests are not protected at all and 10 that their every interest is protected.

“Save Money While You Spend”

2012-02-06T10:58:00.000-08:00

The FINANCIAL -- Bank of Georgia is offering a new service - ‘Electronic Money Box’ - which is a very simple way of saving money to one’s deposits.

“Any time our clients complete a transaction they have the possibility to collect a defined amount of money on their deposit accounts,” said Irakli Gilauri, General Director of Bank of Georgia . “This is an unprecedented offer in the Georgian banking sector.”

Money from 0.5 GEL/USD/EUR/GBP up to 10 GEL/USD/EUR/GBP will be transferred to the deposit after clients complete any type of transaction including getting money from an ATM or paying for something with their card.

“The new service is free,” Gilauri explained. “Having a plastic card and a deposit at Bank of Georgia is enough to be eligible for Electronic Money Box. The total amount that is accumulated in the deposit depends on the number of operations performed by the client. Money saved by Electronic Money Box will have the same terms as the deposit itself and get the same interest rate as well.”

The deposits have to be addressed to the individual who owns the plastic card. Clients also have the possibility to attach several of their own debit cards to Electronic Money Box and use all of them to save money. In terms of a child’s deposit, both their mother and father can collect money on their child’s deposit.

The ‘electronic money box’ is quite a popular way of saving money in many countries throughout the world, but the Electronic Money Box of Bank of Georgia is unique in Georgia.

“Bank of Georgia is always trying to offer new products which can create a difference for our clients. The issue of saving and collecting money is very important for our clients. But due to different problems they cannot always do this. Now any of our clients can save money by using the electronic money box without the need for any additional effort,” the General Director stated.

Bank of Georgia is a leading bank in Georgia. The Bank holds 36 percent of the market according to data of the Georgian National Bank. As the number of Bank of Georgia ’s clients is so great the Bank’s representatives claim that all types of people will become users of their ‘electronic money box’.

“Electronic Money Box is for everyone, especially those who intensively use their Bank of Georgia card,” he added.

Bank of Georgia offers several types of deposits including Accumulative, Before Demanding, Maxima and Children’s deposits. Different deposits are adjusted to the needs of clients and they offer different interest rates. All types of individuals can find a suitable deposit at the Bank to meet their needs.

Bank of Georgia is a leading bank in Georgia. The Bank holds 36 percent of the market according to data of the Georgian National Bank as of June 30, 2011. Net Interest Income of the Bank in the second quarter was 51.7 million GEL (28.0 million USD), and Net Non-Interest Income - 29.6 million GEL (16.1 million USD). Total Operating Income (Revenue) for the same period was 81.3 million GEL (44.1 million USD).

Bank of Georgia currently has 425 ATMs, the biggest network in Georgia. The number of their service centres has reached up to 151 across Georgia. Seven of these centres are working 24 hourly and 23 are located on the underground. The Bank owns 627,000 plastic cards, out of which 112,000 are credit cards. Bank of Georgia has issued 521,167 debit cards and 122,180 with 99,364 American Express cards as of November 30, 2011.

Ideas for Home Based Professions

2012-02-06T10:53:00.000-08:00

Ana Mushkudiani has been running handmade crafts business at home for several years. She claims that selling handmade accessories can earn some money.

“My accessories cost from 5 GEL to 30 GEL,” Ana Mushkudiani said to The FINANCIAL. “This business can’t pay for all my needs, but it does bring in enough money for daily expenses.”

Mushkudiani is 25 years old and has a family: a husband and four year old daughter and two years old son. Because of her small child, she can’t work out of the home. That’s why Ana works on accessories. She mostly makes brooches, frequently using different stones. She promotes her accessories on the internet and has had a few buyers through the internet.

“I was a student and my family couldn’t afford to pay for all of my needs and wishes. I tried but couldn’t find an adequate job for myself as I was still studying and lacked enough free time. After long thought I decided to make accessories and sell them. this is very convenient as I make them at home when I find some free time,” Mushkudiani stated.

“It’s a type of job that you can enjoy whilst making money. The handmade crafts business is quite optimistic,” she added.

Intellectual service, educational activities and el-commerce are the best activities that can be run at home in Georgia, according to experts in Georgia.

“It’s quit tough to run a business and earn proper profit from home in Georgia,” Davit Narmania, Economic expert told the FINANCIAL, “Consulting including law consulting, giving lessons in different disciplines and el-commerce, buying and selling products are best activities that can bring proper profit by running from home.”

El-commerce businesses run from home are becoming more and more popular in Georgia. There are several small entrepreneurs who offer service of online shopping. They sitting at home help people to find preferable items and order them. Majority of such entrepreneurs run the business via social network Facebook.

One of them is Jewelry Online Gallery. Gaga Giorgadze, owner of the store runs it on Facebook as well. But he plans to launch the web-page of the store.

“I carried out a focus group and decided to sell official patents of famous brand accessories,” Giorgadze said. “We have our partners at various countries and they provide us the accessories.”

“I don’t need office or anything else for my business. I run the business from home and this is quite convenient for me,” he added.
Price at Jewelry Online Gallery varies from 12 up to 50 GEL. Main demand is for the products of 15-25 GEL. The store has about 50 orders weekly, but owner supposes to triple the number in the near future.

“I already have some items in Tbilisi , others will be delivered after ordering. The service is quite popular among Georgians, especially women of 15-40, but sometimes men also order accessories for their partners,” Giorgadze noted.

Soon official patents of bags, sun-glasses and watches of famous brands including Hermes, Guess, Prada, Fendi, Armani, Luis Vuitton will be available as well, Giorgadze promises.

Being private teacher is another profitable home based job in Georgia. Georgian university entrants tend to do special one year courses in every discipline they are going to pass to enter the high school.

Iza Svanidze is a teacher of Russian language. She is suffering by obesity and has some health problems. Therefore Svanidze can’t teach at school or university. So she teaches at home.

“I have tought at school for years, but now I can hardly walk,” Svanidze said the FINANCIAL. “Russian isn’t very popular nowadays, but still I have pupils bringing enough money to afford my living. I enjoyed teaching at school, but to tell the truth now I prefer staying at home and receiving pupils here. Such lessons are more interesting for me.”

External Trade Turnover of Georgia Increased by 36Percent in 2011 Compared to the Previous Year

2012-01-31T10:58:00.000-08:00

The FINANCIAL -- External merchandise trade of Georgia amounted to 9,247 million USD in 2011, according to data of the National Statistics Office of Georgia.

The number had increased by 36 percent in comparison to the previous year. The volume of export increased by 39 percent and reached up to 2,189 million USD in 2011, while import grew by 34 percent and amounted to 7,058 million USD.

“Trade deficit reached 4,869 million USD, up 32 percent from 2010. Despite the growing absolute rate of trade deficit, its share in external trade has been gradually decreasing since 2007. This indicator reached its lowest margin, 52.7 percent in 2011,” Geostat officials said.

The number of trading partner countries of Georgia is growing annually. They reached a maximum last year. 147 countries had trade relationships with Georgia in 2011.

The share of the ten biggest trade partner countries makes up 67 percent of the country’s entire trade. Turkey with 1,500 million USD, Azerbaijan with 1,037 million USD and theUkraine with 847 million USD remain the main trade partners of Georgia. The other main trade partners of the country are China, Germany, Russia, the USA, Bulgaria, Armenia and the United Arab Emirates.

“The foreign trade of Georgia with EU countries was 2,477 million USD in 2011 which is 41 percent more compared to the same data of the previous year. Out of the whole trade turnover export was 424 million USD which is 46 percent more than in 2010 and import was 2,053 million USD, 40 percent more than in 2010. The share of EU countries out of the country’s entire trade was 27 percent,” Geostat officials stated.

“Trade turnover with CIS countries amounted to 2,994 million USD in 2011. This had increased by 34 percent in comparison to 2011. The share of CIS out of the whole trade turnover totals 32 percent. Export with CIS countries increased by 64 percent and amounted to 1,053 million USD, while import grew by 22 percent and amounted to 1,942 million USD. The trade deficit decreased by 6 percent,” Geostat says.

Motor cars hold first place in the export commodities of 2011, the same as in 2010. Motor cars comprised 21 percent of total export coming to 500 million USD. Ferro-alloys and mineral or nitrogenous, chemical fertilizers were also leading exports. Ferro-alloys made up 12 percent of export with 255 million USD and mineral or nitrogenous, chemical fertilizers made up 7 percent with 144 million USD.

Other top export products were fresh or dried nuts (130 million USD), ferrous waste and scrap (117 million USD), unwrought or semi-manufactured gold (110 million USD), copper ores and concentrates (85 million USD), undenatured ethyl alcohol, spirits, liqueurs and other spirituous beverages (67 million USD), bars and rods of iron (61 million USD) and wine of fresh grapes (54 million USD).

“The export of nuts experienced the biggest increase in 2011. This grew by 103 percent. As well as nuts, minerals or chemical fertilizers grew by 100 percent and motor cars - by 98 percent. As for import, leaders in terms of growth are structures and parts of structures (growth of 104 percent), automatic data processing machines (growth of 53 percent) and petroleum gases and other gases (growth of 47 percent),” Geostat officials said.

The top import products were petroleum and petroleum oils with 894 million USD, motor cars with 511 million USD and petroleum gases and other gases with 237 million USD.

The importer and exporter countries of Georgia differ from one another. The top ten exporter countries in 2011 were Azerbaijan (426 million USD), Armenia (223 million USD), Kazakhstan (157 million USD), the USA (143 million USD), the Ukraine (141 million USD), Canada (115 million USD), Bulgaria (94 million USD), Italy (76 million USD) and Germany (49 million USD).

The top ten importer countries of Georgia in 2011 were Turkey (1,272 million USD), the Ukraine(706 million USD), Azerbaijan (611 million USD), China (525 million USD), Germany (481 million USD), Russia (390 million USD), Bulgaria (256 million USD), the United Arab Emirates (226 million USD) and Romania (188 million USD).

Export and import with all these countries increased in 2011 compared to in the previous year.

TBC Bank to Introduce ‘Western’ Internet Banking System

2012-01-31T10:51:00.000-08:00

The FINANCIAL -- TBC Bank is implementing a new internet banking system. The process should be completed by the end of the first quarter.

“This will be a totally new development in the Georgian banking system,” Vakhtang Butskhrikidze, General Director of TBC Bank , told The FINANCIAL. “The new internet banking will be on a level of that of any Western banks. This will involve the implementation of new technological products. This will result in the Bank being closer to its clients.”

Q. How would you sum up the year 2011 for TBC Bank ?

A. TBC Bank experienced significant increases in all banking sector directions in 2011. Financial data of the Bank reached maximal indicators in 2011. Demand for loans as well as deposits grew in both retail and corporate sectors.

Financial Times Group and its magazine The Banker named TBC Bank the Best Bank of the Year in Georgia. Magazine Euromoney also granted the status of Best Bank of the Year in Georgia to TBC Bank .

International rating agency Fitch ratings improved the Sustainability rating of TBC Bank from B- up to B+.

TBC Bank is the “Best Georgian Bank by Monetary Transfers” according to the data of Deutsche Bank and Commerzbank as well.

Our main challenge in 2011 was the global financial crisis which we successfully overcame. Due to this crisis, it was quite tough for us to attract resources from foreign markets; therefore we were mainly oriented on local deposits. In my opinion this was the best decision considering the situation.

The Bank awarded 1.3 million GEL worth of Smart points to the members of Smart Club.

We implemented new products including Prime Card and I-Card.

Q. What do you consider the main achievement of TBC Bank to have been in 2011?

A. One of the main achievements of TBC Bank was purchasing a controlling stake of Bank Constanta in the beginning of 2011. Constanta is the fastest growing financial institute in Georgia. As a result we hold a strong position in the market of crediting micro business. This was quite new for us, as TBC Bank was not actively present in this market before.

As a result Constanta increased its banking assets by 78 percent and credit portfolio - by 71 percent.

2011 was a success for TBC Bank ’s other subsidiary companies including TBC Leasing. TBC Leasing increased its market share by 18.7 percent in 2011.

Q. How much were the Bank’s assets in 2011? Please compare them to 2010.

A. The Bank’s assets grew by 974 million GEL in 2011 and reached 3,224 million GEL.

Q. What was the loan portfolio in 2011 in comparison to that in 2010?

A. The loan portfolio increased by 530 million GEL. The total amount of the loan portfolio reached 2 billion GEL by the end of 2011.

Q. What was the portfolio of deposits in 2011? Please compare it to that of 2010.

A. TBC is continuing to hold the biggest share of the deposit market in Georgia. 34 percent of retail deposits are located in TBC Bank .

The portfolio of deposits grew by 615 million GEL and amounted to 1,970 million GEL by the end of 2011.

Such a huge increase was the result of being a stable and trustworthy bank, as well as the successful marketing campaigns of the Bank including “Find USD 10,000” and “Win USD 20,000”. These campaigns were quite successful at the international advertisement festivals Eurobest Advertising Festival, Popok and Eurobest 2011, where TBC Bank won gold and silver medals.

As a result of the successful campaigns, the portfolio of retail deposits exceeded 1 billion GEL.

Q. TBC Bank is represented in Azerbaijan by TBC Credit. How does Azerbaijan’s banking sector differ from Georgia’s?

A. TBC Credit is TBC Bank ’s subsidiary company, which experienced quite important growth in 2011. Its banking assets increased by 35 percent, while its credit portfolio grew by 31 percent.

The financial crisis did not influence Azerbaijan’s economy much as the country is an exporter and has significant income from oil.

The banking sector in Azerbaijan will grow. However as opposed to in Georgia where the banking sector is presented by local as well as international banks, and there is high competition, in Azerbaijan we see more local banks while international institutions are not present there.

Q. TBC Bank had planned to open its first representative office in Tel Aviv, Israel. How has this plan developed?

A. TBC Bank is already represented in Israel by TBC Invest. Its deposit portfolio grew by 15 million USD in 2011.

Q. What novelties does TBC Bank promise its clients?

A. Our main focus will be on our new strategy in 2012. By offering new products we try to satisfy the increased requirements of our clients and provide them with maximum comfort by using our products and services. We started implementing this strategy in 2011. We think that this should positively affect the operating of the Bank. TBC Bank will become outstanding in this direction in the whole Caucasus region as well.

Q. According to the latest research on SMEs in the country, one of their main problems is affording loans. Does TBC Bank plan to ease loan procedures?

A. Due to global tendencies we have always wanted to work intensively in the sector of micro business. This is a very interesting and important sphere and has huge potential for future development. Therefore we decided to purchase an 80 percent stake of commercial bank Constanta. With this institute we plan to become the leading bank in terms of financing micro business over the period of the next three years.

Q. Which tools does TBC Bank use to increase its client satisfaction rate?

A. One of the main goals of TBC Bank is to improve the quality of service and increase the satisfaction rate of our clients.

One of the challenges is to manage getting fast, operative and effective decisions in non-standard situations. TBC Bank tries to offer simplified products to its customers. Nowadays our employees spend 70-80 percent of their time on providing technical services and only 20-30 percent on achieving client satisfaction. Fundamental changes are necessary in this direction. The technical side of the service should be simplified, so as to require only 30 percent of our employees’ time. As a result 50-70 percent of time would be spent on creating a high client satisfaction rate. These reforms have been planned with the help of world prominent consulting company McKinsey. These changes are based on the results of a survey conducted with McKinsey and its recommendations.

Q. In your opinion what will the main challenge for TBC Bank be in 2012?

A. One of the challenges of 2012 will be attracting commercial resources from Europe. This year they will be expensive and less effective. Therefore growth and development of the banking sector will be more dependent on local deposits. At the same time, resources received from other international financial institutions will be limited and purposeful. Despite this challenge, we plan 15-20 percent growth of the banking sector. If the situation will somehow improve in Europe, growth will be bigger.

Q. How many branches and ATMs did TBC Bank open in 2011?

A. TBC Bank opened five new branches in 2011- in Tbilisi , Rustavi, Poti and Kutaisi.19 new ATMs were added to the chain as well.

Q. How important is charity to the Bank?

A. Charity is an essential part of TBC Bank . We have given 1. 03 million GEL to charity. TBC Bank has also implemented several huge social projects through which charity has been accomplished.

Q. How intensively does TBC Bank use social networks?

A. We have created the biggest social media project in the Georgian banking sector. At present 45 percent of social media users also use TBC Bank ’s Facebook pages.

Easter Tops New Year as Busiest Period of SMS Activity in Georgia

2012-01-25T06:38:00.000-08:00

8.1 million messages were sent at New Year via MagtiCom, according to Tatuli Gviniashvili, MagtiCom.

“This year more messages were sent out on Easter than at New Year as 8.1 million massages were sent at New Year and 9.0 million at Easter,” Gviniashvili said. “As for phone calls, 8.2 million calls were made on January 1.”

“MagtiCom is improving its service every year, therefore the network worked almost without hitches despite it being a very busy period. We don’t have any network problems during other periods of the year,” she added.

Beeline detected a record number of messages sent on January 1, which is a relatively new telecom operator compared to MagtiCom and Geocell.

The intensive usage of mobile services at New Year does result in some network problems, but the general situation has been improving year on year.

Short Message Services is becoming a more popular and well-used mobile service according to interviewed persons. The tariffs for messages vary from 0.01-0.06 GEL depending on the scheme. At the same time usage of phone calls is increasing as well. Currently if a subscriber is signed on to certain schemes, he/she can speak for as little as 0.01 GEL a minute, while tariffs have been 0.288 GEL in previous years.

About 5.0 million messages are sent monthly via MagtiCom according to the data of 2011. 5.4 million messages were sent in December 2011.

2,311,638 massages were sent on December 31 and 3,016,238 messages on January 1 via Beeline.

“Our subscribers talked for 6,038,308 minutes on December 31, which is 23 percent more in comparison to the same period of the previous year,” said Teona Bagdavadze, PR Manager of Beeline. “The total number of minutes Beeline subscribers talked for on January 1 was 7,092,565.”

“Despite the record number of calls made and messages sent via Beeline on December 31 and January 1, we did not experience any problems. Our New Year figures clearly show how the number of our subscribers has increased,” she added.

“As usual, Geocell takes special measures to prevent problems due to an overloaded network at New Year,” said Lika Metreveli, Corporate Communications Manager of Geocell. “This year was no exception and our technical service implemented all necessary procedures. As a result our network ran with minimal hitches on New Year’s Eve and January 1.”

Despite the claims of mobile operators, problems and errors were still recorded on January 1, especially during the period of 00:00 - 02:00.

The FINANCIAL interviewed 150 individuals and found that about 90 percent of them use Short Message Services.

10 percent of those interviewed admitted that they send about 50 messages per day via their mobile phones, while 25 percent send up to 30 messages per day. Only 5 percent send more than 50 SMSs a day. Half of the people interviewed (50 percent) send about 10 messages per day.

'Made in Georgia’ - Manufacturing in Georgia on the Rise

2012-01-25T06:34:00.000-08:00

“Georgia offers a number of overall competitive advantages forthe manufacturing sector,” Keti Bochorishvili, Director of Georgian NationalInvestment Agency, told The FINANCIAL. “First and foremost are its costadvantages. Labour costs are significantly lower than in most surroundingcountries.”

Georgia is the Number 1 Country in Eastern Europe and Central Asia interms of Ease of Doing Business according to the World Bank Survey of 2012. The Bank hailed the Georgian Government’scommitment to reforms over the past few years asunprecedented.

The Government of Georgia has identified and targeted the manufacturing sectoras one of its main economic priorities for investment and growth. Manufacturingin Georgia may be more profitable for foreign companies than in other countriesdue to several factors.

Currently the largest group of unemployed, 50 percent, is aged between 20-34years, which confirms the availability of a young labour force. In 2009-10 31percent of the population in the 20-24 age group were enrolled in tertiaryeducation courses.

“We have a competent group of young managers, accountants, finance experts,economists, lawyers etc. that with the proper mentoring could eventually takeover the operations of a growing manufacturing sector,” said R. MichaelCowgill, President and co-founder of Georgian American University’s businessand law schools in Tbilisi as well as Vice-President and Treasurer of the American Chamber ofCommerce in Georgia. “We do have many highly trainable workers that areunemployed just waiting for such opportunities. Manufacturing is one of theareas which could help us so much in reducing unemployment.”

“Low salaries are another important benefit for manufacturing in Georgia,”Bochorishvili claims.
The average gross monthly salary is lower than European equivalents - 616 GEL(346 USD) in 2010.”

Salary levels differ across Georgia’s regions. The highest average salary isin Tbilisi where 25 percent of the population resides. This was 760 GEL in2010 which is 25% above the national average. Regions with other significantcities have below average salary levels, for example Adjara with Batumi - 460GEL (258 USD) and Imereti with Kutaisi - 383 GEL (214 USD), which are 25 and 33percent less respectively compared to the capital.

“Electricity costs, which are a major input for manufacturing business, arealso very low due to Georgia’s vast hydropower resources,” GNIA’s Directoradded. “Georgia’s open, simple and transparent business environment allows forcompetitively low time and cost to market.”

“As well as low wages, stable energy supplies, rail, road and portinfrastructure, better IT & communications technology, business-friendlyGovernmental policies, effective patrol providing a safe and secureenvironment, better educational programmes and more English language fluencysupport a high increase of manufacturing in Georgia. Further there are so manybuildings and sites available throughout all of Georgia which are ideal formanufacturing facilities. Some manufacturing processes also rely on waterresources, which of course is one of Georgia’s strengths. Our geographicallocation is also a huge benefit in that we can more easily import from andexport to both Asia and Europe,” Cowgill stated.

“Low labour costs, access to key customers and end markets in the region andease of doing business represent strong competitive advantages that Georgia canoffer to potential investors, Bochorishvili said. “Georgia has set up threeFree Industrial Zones (of which one is still under construction) that willallow companies to operate their business and trade efficiently, while enjoyingtax free status.”

Currently GNIA offers an investment project portfolio which is the main toolfor potential investors to get basic information about different sectors. TheAgency, in cooperation with PWC, has created a sector study and investmentproposal in the light manufacturing sector.

“More than 4,600 companies have been established by foreign investors inGeorgia,” Bochorishvili said. “These firms have capitalized upon an affordableyet skilled and talented Georgian multi-lingual labour force.”

“In line with the overall high degree of economic liberty in Georgia, thetextile and apparel industry has become one of the most attractive investmentlandscapes over the last few years. In addition, proximity of the Turkishmarket presents highly attractive export opportunities.”

“Georgia is already benefitting from the manufacturing of building materials.There is current growth in the production of textiles. As more progress is madein agricultural production, food processing is then an ideal area formanufacturing growth. But I also believe we can benefit from our strategiclocation by not just manufacturing products where we have the raw materialsavailable - but assembling major equipment by importing various componentparts. Once we have a few major foreign manufacturers putting plants inGeorgia, I think others will follow,” Cowgill said.

“It is an ideal time to invest and enter the pharmaceutical market in Georgia,”Bochorishvili added.

In pharmaceutical R&D and production, Georgia has a special niche in thearea of bacteriophages and herbal medicine production. Over 40 varieties ofmedicinal herbs and berries are growing wild in the country’s high mountainousregions, and there has been focus on and knowledge of herbal medicines datingback many centuries in Georgia.

Also the manufacturers of household appliances, furniture and other intensiveproduction as well as light manufacturing field players will benefit from thegrowing agriculture sector for products such as irrigation pipes, greenhouses,agriculture machinery and processing lines.

“A good example of starting successful production is the Georgian-Swiss companyBerta,” Bochorishvili stated. “This is the first and the largest manufacturerof household and personal care products in the whole Caucasus region whoentered the Georgian market with 35 million USD investment. The company soontook advantage of the country’s liberal export regulations and startedexporting its products first to Azerbaijan, later planning to move toRussia, Ukraine , Armenia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan.

There are also other successful foreign companies in Georgia: Fresh -production of household appliances; Embawood - furniture production; Geoplast -plastic pipes extrusion; Mina - glass bottle packaging; Caparol - production ofpaints, enamels materials for facades; Caucasian PET - PET bottle packaging.

Doubts over Indian Medicines Sold in Georgia

2012-01-25T06:17:00.000-08:00

Georgia has some of the highest medicine and healthcare expensesconsidering its status as a low income country.

The general annual healthcare expense per person is 134.1 GELand pharmaceutical products’ expense - 80.6 GEL, in Georgia according to theNational Statistics Office of Georgia. The situation is being made morecomplicated due to the high number of medicines from Asian countries availableon the market.

Medicines imported from India are sometimes marketed as Georgian products. Suchmedicines have eye catching Georgian stamps and only very small text sayingthat the medicine is actually produced in India. The FINANCIAL recentlyobserved that consultants at GPC, one of the leading pharmacy networks in thecountry, were offering Indian medicines branded with the “Red A” stamp,denoting a Georgian product. The seller offered Indian medicine instead of theGeorgian product requested by the customer.

According to GPC’s website “Red A is a sign of quality and is assigned todrugstores complying with the stipulated requirements”.

“We have outsourcing manufacturing in different countries all over the world,including Switzerland, France, Spain, Turkey, Italy, the USA, India, Canada andetc,” George Gordadze, Manager of Planning and Monitoring at GPC said.“We strictly control the whole process of manufacturing. Later the quality ofmanufactured medicines is check at independent laboratories in differentcountries.”

“We have never said that these medicines are produced in Georgia. This is notprofitable for us as image of Georgian medicines isn’t high enough. But in somecountries including Germany, foreign outsourcing manufacturing is considered aslocal. For example, medicines manufactured in other country especially for aGerman company are sold as Made in Germany,” he stated.

The import of medical facilities took fourth place in the total import ofGeorgia in 2011. The total value of bulk and packaged medicines amounted to167,860,000 USD in the 10 months of 2011, their total weight - 4,442.2 tons.The biggest countries Georgia imports from are: Armenia, with 611.7 tons ofbulk and packaged medicines worth 1,924,600 USD; India with 587.2 tons worth5,572,900 USD; Belgium with 345.6 tons worth 5,765,500 USD; Turkey with 339.1tons worth 28,283,900 USD; and theUkraine with¬333.5 tons worth 7,898,500 USD. As well as them there are some other bigimporters, including Germany, Bulgaria and Russia.

In regards to the import of medicines, consumers’ rights are somehow protectedas they know the importer countries and have the possibility to choose themedicine according to its quality and price. Because of the import of bulkmedical products and local packaging situation however, it is more complicated.

In total 281.2 tons of bulk pharmaceutical products were imported to Georgiawith 114.5 tons from India and 100.3 tons from China in the first 10 months of2011, according to the National Statistics Office of Georgia.

There are currently three large pharmaceutical companies in Georgia: Aversi,which imports bulk pharmaceutical products and packages them; GMP which has thewhole manufacturing circle completed locally; and Red A which has outsourcing,meaning the company has its medicines manufactured by foreign companies.

The National Statistics Office of Georgia doesn’t publicize the shares ofGeorgian pharmaceutical companies in the total import. According to theresearch of the Association of Young Financers and Businessmen (AFBA) done in2009 however, Aversi holds the largest share - 66.3 percent - of the wholeimport of bulk pharmaceutical products, while GMP holds 20 percent.

Aversi imported 71.9 percent of its bulk pharmaceutical products from Indiaaccording to the same source.

The representative of Aversi in talks with The FINANCIAL said that the term“bulk pharmaceutical product” doesn’t exist at their company at all and thatthey manufacture the products themselves. The PR Manager of the company laterrefused to give any kind of information including about importer countries inspite of being asked several times.

According to the data of AFBA, Aversi held 59.4 percent of local production,and GMP - 28.8 percent. Products of Aversi have the label “Made in Georgia”.Georgian law doesn’t require for the name of the country where the bulkpharmaceutical product or substances were produced to be printed on thepackaging.

“We have strict quality control during the whole manufacturing process,” GiorgiAntadze, General Director of GMP, told The FINANCIAL. “We are the only factoryin the Caucasus region which is working with the standard of Good ManufacturingPractice. We are responsible for each pill. We are exporting 40 percent of ourproducts to a total of nine countries. We are planning to expand our export toEU countries. We are actually currently working on registering our medicines inFrance.”

“The controlling of quality is easy for us as we manage the whole manufacturingprocess. We import substances, which are active pharmaceutical ingredients.They are chemical products and not medical. Manufacturing these substancescauses huge ecological problems. Therefore having such a factory in Georgiaisn’t at all desirable.”

GMP manufactures up to 160 medicines. The company imports about 3,000 types ofsubstances from hundreds of companies. The main importer countries are Spain,Switzerland, Austria and the USA.

“We import substances from India as well,” Antadze said. “India produces lowquality medicines as well as high quality ones. Its medicines are registered inEU countries and the USA, which have the highest quality requirements.Therefore the quality of Indian medicines is not questionable. Especially inour case as we don’t import bulk product medicines.”

“The margin of profit is quite high as we have the whole manufacturing processand we can afford the highest quality substances. In the case of importing bulkproducts and packaging them, income is quite low. This encourages the producerto buy the cheapest bulk products, which are made in India and China. The mainproblem is that these medicines packaged in Georgia are sold as manufactured inGeorgia,” he added.

Merab Janiashvili, former President of AFBA, who did research in the field ofimport of medicines, says that India can’t control the quality of medicines andasks other countries to check it before importing. “I can’t say for definitethat Georgia is importing low quality medicines but the situation certainlyseems questionable,” Janiashvili said.

“The quality of Indian medicines imported in Georgia is not clear,” IaDemurishvili, neurologist, told The FINANCIAL. “We almost never prescribeIndian medicines. I advise everyone not to try to economise when it comes totheir health, and therefore not to use Indian medicines. They don’t work in mostcases and sometimes they can even negatively affect a person’s health.”

According to WHO, India accounts for nearly 35 percent of the world’s spuriousdrugs market. It is estimated that 40 percent of the pharma market in India,i.e. Rs 8000 crore, is under the grip of spurious and black marketed drugs. Thepharmacy industry, including those manufacturing counterfeit drugs, is growingat the rate of 20 percent annually, which means that every year the chances ofbuying a medicine that can do more harm than good is also risingproportionately.

One recent pilot study of Essential Drug Quality in Two Major Cities in Indiafunded by Africa Fighting Malaria and the American Enterprise Institute says:“India is a leading supplier of high quality generic drugs throughout theworld, but it is also a leading source of counterfeit drugs. In total, 541samples were collected from pharmacies in Delhi and Chennai, with 8.5% (46/541)of tested samples failing TLC and/or disintegration tests.”

Washington Post: “Over the past seven years, amid explosive growth inimports from India and China, the Food and Drug Administration conducted onlyabout 200 inspections of plants in those countries, and a few were the kindthat U.S. firms face regularly to ensure that the drugs they make are of highquality. FDA officials say they are not aware of any health problems caused bydrugs imported from India or China, and that the American companies that importthem usually do their own quality and safety testing. But the Agency acknowledgesthat it is virtually impossible to know whether poor-quality or contaminateddrugs from lightly regulated Asian plants have caused patients to get sicker orremain ill, especially because patients or doctors are unlikely to suspectpoorly manufactured drugs as a problem.”

Untitled

2010-07-06T16:38:00.001-07:00

The adidas Group at a glance

adidas
– a name that stands for competence in all sectors of sport around the globe.

The vision of company founder Adolf (“Adi”) Dassler has long become reality and his

corporate philosophy the guiding principle for successor generations.

The idea was as simple as it was brilliant. Adi Dassler’s aim was to provide every

athlete with the best possible equipment. It all began in 1920, when Adi Dassler

made his first shoes using the few materials available after the First World War.

Today, the adidas product range extends from footwear and apparel to accessories

for all kinds of different sports. The key priorities are: running, football, basketball

and training.

In 1949 Adi Dassler first registered adidas in the commercial register

(Handelsregister) in Fürth (near Herzogenaurach). The official name of the company

back then was “Adolf Dassler adidas Sportschuhfabrik”. After a period spanning

almost 70 years, the Dassler Family withdrew from the company in 1989, and the

enterprise was transformed into a corporation (“Aktiengesellschaft”).

French-born Robert Louis-Dreyfus was Chairman of the Executive Board from April

1993 to March 2001. It was he who initiated adidas’ flotation on the stock market in

November 1995. Since 2001, Herbert Hainer has been leading the Group.

adidas Group
– In 1997, adidas acquired the Salomon group, and the company’s

name changed to adidas-Salomon AG. The Salomon group also included the

TaylorMade golf brand.

In October 2005, the Salomon business segment, including the related subsidiaries

and brands Salomon, Mavic, Bonfire, Arc’Teryx and Cliché, was sold to the Finnish

Amer Sports Corporation. The company changed its legal name to “adidas AG”

following shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting in May 2006.

On January 31, 2006, adidas-Salomon AG acquired Reebok International Ltd. The

closing of the Reebok transaction marked a new chapter in the history of the adidas

Group. By combining two of the most respected and well-known brands in the

worldwide sporting goods industry, the new Group benefits from a more competitive

worldwide platform, well-defined and complementary brand identities, a wider

range of products, and a stronger presence across teams, athletes, events and

leagues. And in June 2006, the company’s name is changed to adidas AG.

The adidas Group has well over 38,000 employees worldwide, with more than 2,600

working at the company’s headquarters in Herzogenaurach. A team of designers,

product developers and experts for biomechanics and material technology carries

out research in Portland and at adidas’ second technology centre in Scheinfeld near

Nuremberg.

In Scheinfeld models, prototypes and made-to-measure performance products are

also manufactured and tested. It is here that adidas maintains the only sports shoe

production facility still in existence in Germany.

More than 170 subsidiaries guarantee marketplace presence for products of the

adidas Group around the world. Sales and distribution of adidas products is grouped

in four regions worldwide: Europe/Emerging Markets, North America, Asia/Pacific

and Latin America. Today, the adidas Group is Europe’s biggest supplier of athletic

footwear and sports apparel.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Download now or watch on posterous

The story of Adidas [www.keepvid.com].mp4 (7354 KB)

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:52:00.001-07:00

adidas – the story of a logo

3-Stripes mark is without doubt the quintessential adidas symbol. It was created

by the adidas company founder, Adi Dassler, and first used on footwear in 1949.

Dassler created a symbol that could be immediately recognized when his footwear

was used in athletic competition and associated with adidas. He emphasized the

association with the slogan “The Brand with the 3 Stripes”. The 3-Stripes were first

used on apparel in 1967. The 3-Stripes now enjoy worldwide recognition as an adidas

symbol.

In the late 60s adidas expanded into the leisure and apparel sector, and this prompted

Käthe and Adi Dassler to seek a new, additional identification mark for the adidas

brand. In August 1971, the

Trefoil was born, out of more than 100 ideas. Inspired by

the 3-Stripes, it is a geometric execution with a triple intersection, symbolizing the

diversity of the adidas brand. This symbol was first used on adidas products in 1972,

and later became the company’s corporate symbol. Today it plays the important role

of representing the adidas Originals collection.

In 1997, adidas decided to introduce an integrated corporate design, choosing as the

core element a new and yet familiar logo: the

3 bars. It was designed in 1990 by the

then Creative Director Peter Moore, and initially used on the Equipment range of

performance products. It is inspired by the 3-Stripes as they appear on footwear. The

shape formed by the bars also represents a mountain, indicating the challenge to be

faced and the goals to be achieved.

In August 1998, following the merger of adidas and Salomon, the then named adidas-

Salomon AG introduced a new corporate logo. The logo unites the values of the brands

of the Group, incorporating the typical colours of the two previous groups: blue for

adidas, red for Salomon. The logo shows three shapes coming together to form a

larger shape, namely a diamond. The space between the shapes forms another shape,

that of a person with arms raised in victory and celebration. This logo appeared on all

corporate documents of the then named adidas-Salomon AG, but not on products.

In July 2002, adidas-Salomon AG presented a revolutionary new business strategy for

the adidas brand, aimed at expanding its customer base and driving top-line growth.

The new structure marked a fundamental shift from the traditional “Footwear” and

“Apparel” structure, introducing a new three-divisional approach with the “Sport

Performance”, “Sport Heritage” and “Sport Style” divisions.

The products in the adidas Sport Performance division are developed for the sports

performance market but have design appeal, encouraging consumers to wear the

products both on and off the court or playing field.

The adidas Sport Heritage division contains adidas Originals products. Originals

products seek to extend the adidas brand’s unique and authentic heritage to the

lifestyle market. Design and functionality are already strong aspects of the two

existing adidas divisions and are continued with an even stronger focus in the new

Sport Style division.

adidas Sport Style

- the future in sportswear designed by Yohji Yamamoto is an

exclusive collection, consisting of men’s and women’s footwear, apparel and

accessories. It combines the mission of the sports brand with the vision of style to

develop an unexpected and radical appeal. Yohji Yamamoto: “For me, this is an

interesting and exciting new project on many levels. And, I always wanted my clothes

to be accessible to… and desired by… a greater number of people, and I feel that it will

be possible for me to achieve this through this new line.”

In 2007, the Sport Heritage and Sport Style divisions merged into a single Sport Style

division. The logos of the two divisions remain visible on the respective collections.

The corporate logo changed after the divestiture of Salomon in October 2005. The new

logo of the adidas Group was launched in April 2006. The adidas Group logo is the

umbrella under which all Group-owned brands stand. It brings adidas back to its roots

by using the familiar adidas wordmark as a visual identity to the business community,

strengthening image and impression.

From a design perspective, the new logo is simple, clear, confident and shows

leadership. It will support future business growth and is flexible enough to anticipate

any unforeseen changes.

At the same time the adidas brand received a new logo to incorporate the divisions

Sport Performance and Sport

See and download the full gallery on posterous

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:42:00.001-07:00

Download now or watch on posterous

adidas and London 2012 [www.keepvid.com].mp4 (1539 KB)

Adidas is an official sportswear partner of 2012 olympics in London. here are some clothes designed especially for 2012 olympics:

http://www.jdsports.co.uk/men/mens-clothing/brand/adidas-london-2012/#jdback

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:39:00.001-07:00

Adidas has lots of sponsorships since its foundation. it sponsors football, cricket, rugby, handball, tennis, basketball, track and field, running, swimming, fencing, artistic gymnastics, golf, judo...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Adidas_sponsorships

Download now or watch on posterous

2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa The Quest Presented by Adidas [HD] [www.keepvid.com].mp4 (6877 KB)

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:09:00.001-07:00


	adidas and Disney Consumer Products have recently presented the new fall/winter 2010 kids and infant collection from adidas. The new adidas Kids collection inspired by the film features cowboy Woody, space ranger Buzz Lightyear, the Army Men and Bo-Peep, brought to life in vibrant colours, fresh designs and multi-coloured prints. The Toy Story collection for boys and girls consists of apparel and footwear available in adidas Sport Performance Stores, select Disney Stores and at sports retailers globally.

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:08:00.001-07:00

Adidas spends lots of money on addvertisment. here are some examples of adidas commercial

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:07:00.001-07:00

There are four Adidas stores in Tbilisi, Georgia: On Vaja-pshavela Avenue, Ilia Chavchavadze Avenue, Marjabishvili Street and in GTC trading center.

There are three Adidas stores in Baku, Azerbaijan: on Nizami Street, neart metro Sahil station
and in Xaqani trade center.

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

Untitled

2010-07-06T15:02:00.001-07:00

Adidas is coming from the name of its founder Adi Dassler, but often this abbreviation is read differently, like these ones:

All Day I Dream About Soccer.
All Day I Dream About Shoes.
All Day I Dream About Sports.
All Day I Dream About Scoring.
All Day I Dream About Streaking.
All Day I Dream About Stereos.
All Day I Dream About Sea.
All Day I Dream About Studies.
At Denmark I Demonstrate A Shot.
After Dinner I Drink A Shot.
All Day I Dream All Sports.
All Day I Dream About Salvation

Posted via email from nanusi's posterous

დარღვევები საარჩევნო უბნებზე

2010-05-30T08:02:00.000-07:00

დარღვევები საარჩევნო უბნებზე

Georgian Tourism Today

2010-03-01T07:22:00.000-08:00

The Lake Tania, Arxoti, Georgia

This spring, Georgia will be advertised as a tourist destination country in European countries in this spring in an effort to boost the country’s appeal to travelers, President Saakashvili recently announced. But local tour operators say that it will take more than television ads to boost the country’s tourism rates, which has suffered since the August 2008 conflict with Russia.

They counter that the best help the government can give is through rebuilding roads and other infrastructure, regulation of expensive air fares and encouraging the development of less expensive boutique hotels.

“It’s difficult to blame only the war but the reality is that Georgia’s image is low and the situation hasn’t been stable since the summer 2008,” says David Kipinani, the marketing manager of the Marriott hotels in Tbilisi.

Before the war, Georgia was on the top of tourism development, with nearly 1.3 million visitors in the first seven months of 2008, according to Nana Kartvelishvili, head specialist at the Department of Tourism and Resorts. Then the Georgian-Russian war and the world economic crisis gave this small country a double hit.

Most tourist agencies and hotels in Tbilisi worry that the number of tourists has decreased, but “after the global crisis and August’s conflict visitors for rest and recreation were replaced by business visitors. At the end of 2008 number of visitors on Georgia’s boards has increased by 23 percent from 2007,” says Kartvelishvili.

Truso revine, Kazbegi, Georgia

In spite of this statistic, tourist agency Info-Tbilisi Travel is still in trouble. This agency organizes package tours for tourists from Europe, especially from Israel, Italy, England and France. They regularly bring in about 15 groups with 15-20 people each per year. In 2008 after the war they hadn’t brought even one group and in 2009 only 8-9 groups.

“After the war in summer 2008 the season 100 percent died still the next spring,” asserted Kakhaber Gagloshvili, the agency’s director, who has been in the tourism business about ten years.

Europeans are very cautious and countries like Germany, France and Holland have taken Georgia from tourist countries’ list after the war and that tourists are still afraid to travel to Georgia, said Gagloshvili.

Hans Heiner Buhr, a German national who has lived in Tbilisi for 12 years and runs his own tour agency for Germans, confirmed this information and says that Germans were afraid of traveling in Georgia and in 2008 after the war he hasn’t done even one tour in Georgia for Germans. In 2009 Buhr has brought 80 percent less tourists than previous years.

According to Gagloshvili one hindrance of tourism development is that Georgia is an expensive country. State tax is lower than in other countries but airline tickets are still quite expensive, as Gagloshvili says. Recently he has founded the nongovernmental organization “Forward Georgia” and at mid-March he is meeting with airlines businessmen as well as government representatives to discuss this issue.

The state tries to decrease the prices and several months ago asked the hotels to reduce the cost of their services and the state will release them from additional cost taxes.

Ia Tabagari, general director of the tourist agency Caucasus Travel, says her agency, too, has suffered since the war.

“It needs at least a year to return the pre-war situation. This summer season is hopeful but if demonstrations start in spring again all reserved tours will be called off,” says Tabagari. “But even it nothing special happens, Georgia’s image is too low.”

“We can’t change it and it’s difficult even for the government. Because the Western world has different criteria of peace,” says the general director.

Feeling Freedom

Mutso, Shatili, Georgia

According to Tabagari another main problem is infrastructure. Sometimes Caucasus Travel doesn’t make tours in very attractive places like Javakheti, Lechkhumi and Svaneti because there are no places to eat or sleep.

“I can’t say that government isn’t caring about it. Tourism department has done a lot but they have to do more,” says Tabagari.

In the meantime, bad infrastructure isn’t a problem in Tbilisi. There are many hotels and restaurants, and in fact, a new luxury hotel, the Radisson, has added a glut of luxury hotel rooms in the city’s capital.

At the Marriott, during several months after the war there were lots of government delegations instead of tourists and the hotel had no problems. But after that initial rush, the number of visitors has significantly decreased.

The Marriott administration has changed its strategy to improve the situation and return the old positions on Georgian Market. “We try to be more aggressive and attractive on the market, we have changed our lounge, we have taken some encouraging measures and what is the most important we have reduced the prices,” says David Kipinani, the marketing manager of the Marriott.

Lounge, Tbilisi Marriott

After 2009, Radisson BLU also provided competition to the Marriott. “Radisson BLU doesn’t have any kind of problems,” claims Otar Baxtadze, hotel administrator, “as usual it is always full with visitors.” But hotel administration failed to offer any concrete figures on occupancy rates

But the Hotel Ambasadori has struggled since the war. “Everything was going excellent, but after the war during two months we had to close half the hotel, number of visitors had decreased more than 60-70 percent. Visitors were only military people and official delegations,” says Ina Charkviani, administrator.

Since 2009 the hotel has returned to the pre-war situation, she said.

A major problem in attracting tourists to Tbilisi is because they don’t tend to stay at the most expensive luxury hotels, says Tabagari, and there are few three-starred hotels in the city.

“This is a really serious problem because being only five-starred hotels will cause decreasing number of tourists in the future,” says Tabagari.

The Lake Tobavarchxili, Samegrelo, Georgia

Nanusi By Liliana

2010-01-30T11:51:00.000-08:00

Naniko Mgebrishvili can’t live without comfort in Tbilisi but when she is traveling around Georgia, she can live in a sleeping bag for a long time.

“My dream is climb up the mountain Mkinvari and I hope I’ll make my dream come true this year,” says Mghebrishvili.

This philologist turned journalism student likes writing and loves Georgia, which she has traveled extensively. She wants to have her own television show about the country’s nature, culture and traditions, which isn’t straight news but a more “intellectual program with lots of analysis,” she says.

She loves when she is photographing as well as being photographed. “The walls in my room are filled with my photos,””, says Mghebrishvili. Her dream is to have a professional photo camera to shoot the whole, colored world.

Her favorite season is summer because in summertime she has chance to travel a lot. Another reason she loves summer is the Sun. The sun makes her feel that life is wonderful, she says. In fact, her favorite color is yellow because it is the color of the Sun, which means warmth and love to her. “Black? I’ve never heard of it,” jokes Mghebrishvili.

სოციალური მედია

2009-12-07T11:51:00.000-08:00

XXI saukune siaxleebis, inovaciebis epoqaa. saocari siswrafiT, usazRvrod viTardeba mecniereba da teqnologiebi. kompiuterisa da internetis ganviTarebis erT-erTi uaxlesi Sedegia axali media. es aris informaciis miwodebis sruliad axali sistema, romelmac daipyro mTeli msoflio. aRniSnul Temaze dawvirlebiT sasaubrod mivmarTeT internet samyaroSi popularul saxes _ dodkas. dodi xarxeli _ blogeri, internet-marketingis specialisti, dodka.ge-s avtori, sadezinformacio saagento ni2news.ge-s damfuZnebeli da mTavari redaqtori Zalian saintereso da mxiaruli mosaubre aRmoCnda. vfiqrob, intervius gacnobis Semdeg mraval adamians gauCndeba survili Seqmnas sakuTari blogi da amiT fexi auwyos drois swraf dinebas. Tumca araviTar SemTxvevaSi ar SeiZleba beWduri mediis miviwyeba. Tanamedrove mouwesrigebel samyaroSic ki yvelafers Tavisi adgili aqvs.

– Cven, rogorc debiutanti Jurnalistebi, davinteresdiT axali mediiT, magram vidre am sakiTxze saubars daviwyebdeT, gviambeT Tqvens Sesaxeb.

_ dodi xarxeli, 23 wlis. dodka.ge-s avtori, ni2news.ge-s damfuZnebeli da mTavari redaqtori. mokled, Cemi pirveli Svili aris blogi, romelic ukve 4 wlisaa da meore Svili _ 4 Tvis viliami.

_ ra aris, zogadad, axali media da riTi gansxvavdeba mediis tradiciuli gagebisgan?

_ axali media (bolo dros ufro xSirad moxseniebuli, rogorc `socialuri media~) aris informacia, media, romelic iqmneba da gadaicema cifruli teqnologiebis meSveobiT, internetiT. axali media nebismier adamians aZlevs Zalauflebas, gaavrcelos is informacia, rac mas surs. gaaSuqos niusi im kuTxiT, rogorc TviTon xedavs. principuli gansxvaveba tradiciuli mediisgan swored esaa _ `Zveli~ media faravs mxolod meinstrim niusebs da is gadis bevr etaps, vidre mayureblamde an mkiTxvelamde miaRwevs. axal mediaSi ki Secvlilia zogadad niusis gageba. niusia yvelaferi _ axali asfaltis damgebi manqanis gamosvlac da xanZaric zimbabveSi, obamas gamarjvebac arCevnebSi da Cxorowyus skolis gundis gamarjvebac fexburTSi. internetSi yvela Tema poulobs Tavis auditorias.

_ rodis da rogor daiwyo axali media da rogor SeiZleba ganviTardes?

_ axali mediis `dasawyisad~ XX saukunis bolo iTvleba, rodesac interneti Rrmad SeiWra yvela Cvenganis cxovrebaSi, rodesac informaciis gacvla-gamocvla wamebis saqme gaxda. axali mediis ganviTareba iwvevs Zveli mediis daZirvas. mSrali niusi aRaravis ainteresebs. bevrad ufro sainteresoa ambis TviTmxilvevlisgan mosmena, rac axal mediaSi xerxdeba. Tan axali media bevrad ufro swrafia. magaliTad, roca CineTSi miwisZvra moxda, twitter-ze xalxi im wamsve werda, rac maT Tvalwin xdeboda, Tu rogor ingreoda saxlebi. ძvel mediaSi ki informacia bevrad ufro gvian gavida. ori Tvis win azerbaijanSi daapatimres ori blogeri. amis Sesaxeb imave dResve icoda mTelma msofliom, maT Soris Cvenc. qarTul presaSi es ambavi mxolod axla daibeWda.

_ 12-13 oqtombers mTawmindis parkSi axali mediis forumi gaimarTa, romlis erT-erTi momxsenebeli iyaviT. ra iyo forumis mizani da ra Sedegi moitana man?

_ forumis mizani iyo axali mediis popularizacia, JurnalistebisTvis, studentebisTvis da arasamTvarobo organizaciis warmomadgenlebisTvis axali SesaZleblobebis gaziareba. ukukavSiris (feedback) mixedviT, Zalian kargi Sedegi moitana. bevri mwers, mirekavs, mekiTxeba rCevas, fiqroben, rogor gamoiyenon axali teqnologiebi sakuTar saqmianobaSi. darwmunebuli var, bevri kargi blogic Seiqmneba am forumis Sedegad.

_ axalgazrdobis garkveuli nawili aqtiuradaa CarTuli blogingSi, Tumca umravlesobam jer kidev ar icis amis Sesaxeb. ra aris blogi da ratom unda gavakeToT is?

_ blogi aris sakuTari, ioladmarTvadi veb-gverdi, romelic nebismiers SeuZlia Seqmnas sruliad ufasod. blogis popularobis erT-erTi mizezi isaa, rom is advilad samarTavia nebismieri adamianisTvis. ratom unda gavakeToT blogi? ar arsebobs araviTari `unda~. aris mxolod `ginda~. blogi bevri ramisTvisaa gamosadegi. damwyebi JurnalistebisaTvis saukeTeso sivia, sadac devs rogorc misi namuSevrebi, aseve xalxis reaqcia, komentarebi statiebze. mcire biznesis mflobelTaTvis saukeTeso saSualebaa, gaagebinos sakuTari saqmianobis Sesaxeb daintrersebul pirebs. Tu raime Tema ainteresebs adamians, magaliTad, klasikuri musika da awarmoebs blogs amis Sesaxeb, is garSemo Semoikrebs amave TemiT dainteresebulebs da bevr saintereso nacnobs SeiZens.

_ Tu flobT statistikur monacemebs sazogadoebis ra nawilia CarTuli blogingSi da sakmarisia Tu ara maTi raodenoba sasurveli Sedegis misaRwevad?

_ blogingSi CarTulobas statistikuri monacemebiT ver gansazRvravT. aris garkveuli raodenoba blogerebisa, romlebic weren blogebs da aris meore nawili, romlebic am blogebs kiTxuloben. saSualod TveSi 30-40 aTasi adamiani Semodis Cems blogze. es imaze metia, vidre bevri qarTuli yovelTviuri Jurnalis tiraJi. ramdenime posti Cemi blogidan, magaliTad, aprilis aqciebis dros dawerili, farTod gavrcelda da ramdenime enaze iTargmna kidec. es konkretuli posti aTasobiT adamianma naxa. Tavad gansajeT, sakmarisia Tu ara es raodenoba sasurveli Segedis misaRevad.

_ Tavad rodis da ratom daiwyeT blogingi?

_ dodka.ge 2006 wels gavxseni da Tavidan mxolod sakuTar ambebs vwerdi, rom megobrebisTvis gameziarebina. telefonze laparaki saSinlad ar miyvars. ase rom, siaxleebs blogze vwerdi da amis Sesaxeb yvela igebda. raRac periodis Semdeg ukve ucxo adamianebmac daiwyes Semosvla. agvistos omSi Cemi meuRle moxalised iyo wasuli da sms-ebiT magebinebda, rac xdeboda mis irgvliv. am yvelafers blogze vdebdi. omis ambebi yvelas ainteresebda, amitom Semodiodnen Cems blogze. ra Tqma unda, araviTari saxelwifo saidumlo ar gamiTqvams. ZiriTadad, jariskacebis emociur ganwyobaze vwerdi.

_ ra xarjebTanaa dakavSirebuli srulyofili blogis Seqmna da misi Senaxva?

_ 3 wlis ganmavlobaSi blogis Seqmnasa da SenaxvaSi davxarje zustad 0 TeTri. Semdeg domeni davaregistrire _ dodka.ge da am misamarTSi vixdi weliwadSi 30 lars.

_ aris Tu ara blogi presis momavali msoflioSi da saqarTveloSi?

_ mTels msoflioSi blogi presis Semcvleli gaxda, saqarTveloSic ar CamorCeba. uamravi adamianisTvis beWduri media uinteresoa. isini nebismier sakiTxze informacias internetiT iReben bevrad ufro swrafad, bevrad ufro xarisxians da srulyofils. rodesac raime xdeba _ omi iqneba es Tu saprotesto aqciebi, uamravi adamiani internets da

Tavisnairi, Cveulebrivi adamianebis mier mowodebul informacias ufro endoba, vidre presas an televizias, sadac erTi arxi acxadebs, rom 100 kaci iyo aqciaze, meore ki naxevar milionze adis. realuri informacia mxolod TviTmxilvelebis blogebze, forumSi postebze da tviterSia.

_ ras ityviT Jargonebze, romelic ase aqtiurad gamoiyeneba blogingSi?

_ Jargoni enis Semadgeneli nawilia. bevri sityva ki ubralod qarTulSi ar arsebobs. axali teqnologiebis SemosvlasTan erTad, enas emateba axali sityvebic. es sruliad bunebrivi procesia.

_ dasaqmebuli adamianisTvis honorari erT-erTi mniSvnelovani faqtoria. ra saxis anazRaureba SeiZleba hqondes Jurnalists da zogadad, blogers, romelic dReSi 5-6 saaTs uTmobs blogis ganaxlebas?

_ jerjerobiT, damoukidebel Jurnalists, romelic TavisTvis wers blogs, aranairi anazRaureba ar aqvs garda SemTxvevebisa, rodesac esa Tu is gamocema gadabeWdavs mis nawers. iyo ramdenime SemTxveva, roca `anabeWdi~ da `cxeli Sokoladi~ daukavSirdnen blogerebs da dabeWdes maTi statiebi, raSic fuli gadauxades.

Tumca mas Semdeg, rac mkiTxvelis raodenoba gaizrdeba, gaCndebian reklamis damkveTebic da amiT gaxdian blogs Semosavlians. me, piradad, blogis warmoebaSi fuls aravin mixdis, Tumca bolo erTi welia blogis meSveobiT mikavSirdebian da vmuSaob sxvadasxva proeqtebze.

_ araferia srulyofili da modiT, blogis uaryofiT mxareebzec visaubroT.

_ uaryofiTi mxare isaa, rom mTeli pasuxismgebloba Senzea _ redaqtoric Sen xar, koreqtoric, cenzoric, kontentis Semqmnelic. aseve is, rom Znelia Tavis dacva plagiarizmisgan _ SeiZleba, vinmem ubralod gadaiweros Seni blogidan masalebi da Tavisad gaasaRos. amis kontroli da mowesrigeba realobaSic Wirs, miT umetes Znelia saavtoro uflebebis dacva internetSi.

_ da bolos, ramdenime rCeva damwyeb blogerebs rogor Seqmnan saintereso blogi da rogor gaxadon is popularuli.

_ mTavaria, gainteresebdes Tema, razec werT, guliT akeTebdeT mas da ara movaleobis moxdis mizniT. Tu SeqmniT Rirebul kontents, aucileblad gipovnian da Segiyvareben. daregistrirdiT blogroll.ge-ze, romelic aris qarTuli blogebis pirveli katalogi. vcdilobT, Tavi movuyaroT bevr qarTul blogs. aris reitingebis sistema da Zalian kargi saitia rogorc sxva blogebis aRmosaCenad, aseve sakuTarisTvis mkiTxvelis mosapoveblad.

ჟურნალი „დებიუტი“

კალამი თავისთავად დაწერს...

2009-12-07T11:33:00.000-08:00

qalbatoni Tamar SaiSmelaSvili Tanamedrove mwerlobis erT-erTi gamorCeuli warmomadgenelia. misi poezia gansakuTrebuli xibliTa da originalurobiT xasiaTdeba. poetma qalbatonma literaturuli Jurnalis gamocema gadawyvita da axlaxans Jurnal `xeleuris~ meore nomeri gamovida. sainteresoa, rom Jurnali acxadebs konkurss revaz inaniSvilis premiis mosapoveblad mcire prozaSi. Cven SevxvdiT qalbaton Tamars aRniSnul Temebze sasubrod da gTavazobT intervius.

_ mogesalmebiT, qalbatono Tamar. upirveles yovlisa, minda, mogilocoT Jurnalis gamocema, romelsac interesiT gavecani. gisurvebT, rom `xeleurma~ male daimsaxuros farTo sazogadoebis yuradReba. Tqven ras gvetyviT Jurnalis Sesaxeb?

_ moxaruli var, rom Jurnali mogewonaT. minda, swored Tqveni Taoba dainteresdes `xeleuriT~. Jurnali siamovnebiT dauTmobs asparezs axal Taobas. bednieri viqnebi, Tu `xeleurSi~ gamoqveynebuli pirveli leqsebisa da novelebis avtori momavalSi saxelmoxveWili (da ara cnobadi! T.S.) Semoqmedi iqneba.

_ poeti brZandebiT. Tqveni poezia gansakuTrebuli lakonurobiTa da eqspresiulobiT xasiaTdeba. Tavad rogor SeafasebdiT sakuTar Semoqmedebas?

_ Semfasebeli, uwinaresad, mkiTxvelia. aqve davZen, rom mokled, lakonurad saTqmelis gamoxatva CemTvis arsebiTia. oRond es saTqmeli aucileblad gulwrfeli unda iyos. rodesac, am aTiode wlis winaT, Cemi leqsebis pirveli krebuli `sizmarSi cxadi~ gamoica, `axali qarTuli gazeTis~ CanarTma `mwerlobam~ ase Semafasa _ emili dikinsoniviT martosuli da faqizi poetiao. aq, uwinaresad, sulTa siaxloves gulisxmobda avtori da ara dikinsonis poeziasTan Sedarebas. leqsSi samyaros aRqmis bunebriv, TviTmyofad gancdas vaniWeb upiratesobas da ara mis, ase vTqvaT, `gakeTebas~. samwuxarod, mogvimravlda dRes aseTi leqsebi.

_ rodis daiwyeT wera?

_ meeqvse klasSi viyavi. axlac zepirad vici pirveli leqsi, romelic Jurnal `pionerSi~ gamoqveynda _ `zamTris suraTi~. es leqsi Zalian miyvars.

_ rodis gadawyviteT Jurnalis gamocema da ra dro daWirda am saqmes?

_ profesiiT Jurnalisti var. imis miuxedavad, rom yvela sakiTxze vwer, mwerloba mainc Cemi usayvarlesi Temaa. amitom Zalian mindoda sakuTari literaturuli gamocema mqonoda. erT dResac kolegasa da ufros megobars iulon toliaSvils, romelsac sakuTari gamomcemloba aqvs, Cemi survili gavumxile literaturuli Jurnalis daarsebis Taobaze. batonma iulonma siamovnebiT iTava misi gamocema, risTvisac madlobas movaxseneb. aq arsebiTi Cemi survilis Sesruleba ki araa, aramed, is rom Cvens literaturul samyaros kidev erTi axali gamocema Seemata. ase daibada `xeleuri.~

_ ratom `xeleuri?~

_ Jurnalis pirvel nomerSi, redaqtoris sarkmelSi mkiTxvels SeuZlia gaecnos amis ganmartebas. qarTuli enis ganmartebiTi leqsikonis mixedviT, xeleuri namgliT momkil purs niSnavs, romelic erT muWaSi Tavsdeba. `ჴeleuli yanisa~, `yana monamgluli~, _ aRniSnavs sulxan-saba... xolo ilia WavWavaZem mwerloba gonebis naWirnaxulev xvavs Seadara, sadac `wminda xorbalic aris da balax-bulaxic~. minda, rom `xeleuris~ avtorebma mxolod wminda xorblis mosavali moimkan da im sulieri samSoblos gadarCenisTvis iRvawon, risTvisac ilia da misi Tanamedroveni ibrZodnen.

_ ra winaaRmdegobebs da sirTuleebs awydebiT, rogorc poeti da rogorc gamomcemeli?

_ problema usaxsrobaa da isev da isev usaxsroba! amis gamo `xeleuri~ didi tiraJiT ver vrceldeba. igive iTqmis poetur krebulebze. as cal wigns rom dastambav, es poetisTvis yvelaze didi problemaa. rogor gipovos mkiTxvelma, roca arc tiraJia sakmarisi da reklamis SesaZleblobasac moklebuli xar?aRarafers vambob honorarze, saTqmeladac sasaciloa. saqarTvelo wignis qveyana iyo da netav, odesme Tu dadgeba is dro, rom mweralma sakuTari honorariT icxovros?

_ amJamad saqarTveloSi Zalian arastabiluri mdgomareobaa. es Tu axdens Tqvens Semoqmedebaze gavlenas, da zogadad, ra gaZlevT SemoqmedebiT stimuls?

_ arastabiluri viTareba, omebi piriqiT _ amZafrebs grZnobebs, tkiviliT muxtavs da uamravi saTqmeli grovdeba. aseT dros muzebi namdvilad ar duman. es viTareba aisaxeba Semoqmedebazec, radgan mwerali im drois Svilia, romelSic cxovrobs... `dro, dro aRniSneo~, _ brZana galaktionma. xolo batoni Tamaz WilaZis azriT, poezia aris sakuTari drois Secnoba... poeti samyaros nawilia, mgzavria da dard-sixaruliani fiqri nakvalevad amCnevia mis suls... leqsebsac...

_ modiT, `xeleurs~ davubrundeT. JurnalSi mravalferovani masalaa gamoqveynebuli. ra kriteriumebiT arCevT mas? es aris niWi, popularoba Tu ubralod, piradi simpaTia?

_ uprvelesad niWis mixedviT. Tumca xandaxan popularobasa da pirad simpaTiasac versad gaeqcevi.

_ da bolos, Cvenc, rogorc debiutantebs, mogveciT rCeva...

_ leqciaze Semosuli batoni nodar tabiZe yovelTvis emil zolas sityvebiT gvmoZRvravda. zolas saxlSi, buxris marmarilos dafaze warweras naxavdiT: `arc erTi dRe ustriqonod!~ minda, Tqvenc es sityvebi waimZRvaroT Tqvens yoveldRiur cxovrebaSi. yovel dRe waikiTxeT wignis Tundac erTi gverdi da raime CaiwereT rveulSic. mniSvneloba ar aqvs, leqsi iqneba, novela Tu orwinadadebiani azri. mTavaria, rom weroT. irgvliv mimoixedeT _ Tqvens saxlSi, ezoSi, quCaSi, qalaqSi... imdeni ram xdeba! oRond SeamCnieT da ifiqreT... kalami TavisTavad dawers... Tqven axali _ XXI saukunis Taoba xarT... axali sityviTa da saTqmeliT gagemdidrebinoT Tqveni samoRvaweo asparezi!

ჟურნალი „დებიუტი“

Is Everything Untimely Good?

2009-11-26T21:10:00.000-08:00

Anemia, Hypertension, Chlamydia, Gonorrhoea, Syphilis, Sepsis, high prenatal risk, too little infant, high risk of mothers’, fetuses’ or infants’ death, these and many other problems may be caused by early teenage pregnancy. There are many alarming accidents but teenagers don’t care about it.

Seventeen-years-old girl who prefers to stay anonymous had lots of problems caused by teenage pregnancy. As a fifteen-years-old, she was already pregnant and didn’t know that early pregnancy could cause any problem. “I thought that I was already formed woman “, she says “and I was able to give birth to my child, but...” she was four months pregnant, when felt weakness, had stomach-ache and high temperature. At first her husband and she thought that it was usual for expectant mothers. But pain hadn’t stopped. It was becoming stronger and stronger. After two weeks she visited her gynecologist, who told that she had lost fetus. “It was terrible. But realizing the fact that my body caused it was more terrible. I wanted to die”, she says. Doctor explained that her uterus hadn’t finished forming and it didn’t have ability to grow fetus in it. After it she had to scrape out the uterus and her life was under high risk for a while. Two years had passed after it but she hadn’t got pregnant again. Another reason that caused these results was lack of information about sexual and reproductive health. If she had visited the doctor immediately when she felt weakness and pain in her stomach, she would avoid problem like sepsis and would have gotten pregnant again easier. All these lead to psychological problems in the young family. “I advise everyone to think deeply before they decide to marry and have children, to be more careful, to get lots of information about pregnancy and especially teenage pregnancy before they get pregnant”, says she.

Keti Chachua, sixteen-years-old mother had given birth to her child when she was 15. Chachua says that her marriage was just a childish freak. She hadn’t a clue what was reproductive health, that teenage pregnancy could cause lots of health problems. Chachua hadn’t serious problems herself but when she got information about it she was alarmed and scared. Chachua had to leave school and sometimes felt negative attitude from people. “I advise all teenagers just live and use teen years maximally,” says Chachua, “Untimely family limits in everything.”

According to the medical view, teen-age pregnancy is connected to high risk of mother’s and infant’s health. It may cause giving birth to too little infant, high risk of anemia, hypertension, Chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and high prenatal risk. Pregnant teenagers can’t finish school, they are unable to continue studying. It breeds financial difficulties, social isolation. There is high rate of smoking in teenager mothers. Teenager mothers’ children grown up in social stress often stand in front of the same problem themselves.

Maka Chikovani OB/gynecologist, head of childbirth classes in Chachava scientific research institute of the prenatal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology talks about medical problems caused by teen-age pregnancy. Teenager’s organism and especially their uterus aren’t finally formed, so risk of premature birth is high. Teenagers look to their pregnancy unserious and have different diet regime from pregnant women. They are youngsters themselves and need lot of calories daily, plus they have to get infant’s nutriment. Misbalanced diet regime is one of the reasons that teenagers give birth to too little fetus. There is high risk of bleeding after giving birth because uterus doesn’t have ability to shrivel. Teen-age pregnancy may cause kidney pathologies. Taking contraceptives isn’t advisable for youngsters. It prevents from regulating of menstruation. Ovulation which isn’t regular is more restrained while getting contraception. Chikovani said that risk of newborn’s death is higher in teenagers.

According to Maka Jorbenadze’s dissertation work, youngsters are lacking information about reproductive and sexual health. Accessibility to reproductive health services is limited for economical, social and physiological barriers. It is important that youngsters had right and purposeful knowledge about reproductive health. If they had this kind of information it would be possible to avoid problems like untimely sexual activity, undesired pregnancy, abortions.

Rusudan Demetrashvili, 51^st public school’s psychologist says that she hasn’t a case, when a pupil asked her about sexual problems or pregnancy. Demetrashvili thinks that youngsters must have knowledge about these issues. “Girls start their sexual life early and they become pregnant because of lacking of information”, she says, “teenage pregnancy breeds some kind of discrimination from society. Almost all pregnant pupils leave studying.”

Head of the informational providing service at National Centre for Disease Control and Public Health Guram Katsitadze is against studying sexual and reproductive health at school. He thinks that exactly sexual knowledge causes so many teenage pregnancies and abortions. When a youngster gets information about it she gets more interested and curious. To his opinion sexual knowledge received from mothers is quite enough for teenagers.

According to GMFA (Georgian family medicine association) the number of teen-age pregnancy has increased as a result of increased number of youngsters’ sexual experience. Most of these pregnancies are unwanted and unplanned. Asking what has conditioned undesirable pregnancy, 50 percent of youngsters answered, “I thought I wouldn’t become pregnant,” 25 percent thought that they had sexual contact then, when chance of becoming pregnant was very low, for 20 percent pregnancy was result of unplanned sexual contact, 5 percent thought that she was too young for becoming pregnant and 3 percent didn’t know anything about contraception. Last year number of undesired pregnancy among 15-19 years old youngsters was 21 percent. Half of them had come to the end, 1/3 had finished by abortion.

number of pregnancies:

years	-15 (age)	15-19 (age)
2004	26	6220
2005	38	6865
2006	25	6608
2007	15	6534
2008	22	7753

http://www.statistics.ge/main.php?pform=78&plang=2

Another important problem is teenage abortions. According to humanrights.ge world statistics show that number of abortions is increasing. 46 million abortions are made yearly in the world. 19 million is risky and dangerous, made by unqualified specialists. 1 pregnancy out of 5 is ended by abortion. 1 abortion out of 10 is risky. 2 risky abortion out of 5 is among girls aged till 15 and 1 out of 7 is in a group aged till 20. 14 percent of pregnant women, aged15-20 is dead after risky abortions.

number of abortions:

years	-15 (age)	15-20 (age)
2000	1	787
2001	1	857
2002	9	789
2003	2	897
2004	6	1494
2005	5	1057
2006	2	1380
2007	8	1037
2008	6	1359

http://www.statistics.ge/main.php?pform=82&plang=2

This is official figures, but almost all doctors admit that number of abortions in teenagers is bigger than in official documents. But most of them are made illegally.

Anyway, giving birth to child and being mother is a great miracle. Nobody is prevented from bad accidents. Every pregnant woman in spite of her age has to be carefully and try best for her child.

Studio Monitor's new film "President's Residence"

2009-11-13T11:15:00.000-08:00

President’s residence is built illegally. Nobody knows who has financed it. One family lived on the place of the residence had ceded flat to the government but they have been waiting for compensation since 2004. “President’s residence” –a film shot by the studio “Monitor” and financed by “Open Society Georgia Foundation” talks about these and other interesting details about this construction.

Building of the president’s residence started in 2004. All inhabitants of that place had taken compensations except Fifias. They had been living there since 1992 but hadn’t privatized the flat. Fifias got this flat by warrant from Zarickaia, who had lived in Krasnodar. In 2004 when constructing of the residence started, Fifias sent their acquaintance Mamuka Tkebuchava to Krasnodar for Zarickaia’s warrant. He drew up the document and arrived. Fifias requested to the government 750 000 $ for their flat which was 260 Km square. But it was evaluate 595 000 $.Government had paid 200 Lari monthly to Fifias for 6 months. During this period Tkebuchava falsely drew up another document and the flat was transferred to the possession of Otar Zurabishvili. Fifias appealed it and court pass sentence to arrest Tkebucvaba and Zurabishvili for two years. But they weren’t arrested. In 2008 wanted Zurabishvili sold this place for 5 000$ to Shinjikashvili. After several months Tbilisi City Hall bought it for 1 500$ from Shinjikashvili. By this time President’s residence was already built. It fallows that Tbilisi City Hall had bought part of already built residence. Now Fifias question is judged in Strasburg.

Many other details are doubtful about the residence. President told that it casted 0.17 percent of budget. This is 50 000 000 Lari. Oppositions say that cost 800 000 000 lari. It isn’t known who has paid this money. It wasn’t taken from budget or treasury. Architect is also unknown.

The film “president’s residence” talks all about these in details. Author of the film is Giorgi Mgeladze, one of the studio Monitor’s journalists. Film was shown in the Open Society Georgia Foundation on 13^th November. There was a little discussion after show.

“President’s residence” was sponsored by “Open Society Georgia Foundation”. Irakli Cercvadze, coordinator of media development program says that the foundation finances investigative journalism yearly. In 2009 they sponsored three studios: Monitor, Reportior and GNC. They got 17 000 Lari at first stage. First stage for the studio Monitor was to shoot 4 films. They would be discussed, valued by experts, journalists, lawyers, spectators. If they pass this stage well, they will get money for other 12 films. Film “President's residence” was one of the studio Monitor's four experimental films.

People Are Hungry

2009-11-08T09:41:00.000-08:00

Recently new inscriptions -“I’m hungry”, “people are hungry” have appeared in the centre of Tbilisi, on Chavchavadze avenue.

Inscriptions are written by red pulverizer. They are on Tbilisi State University’s walls, on the buildings, in the undergrounds. Some of them are written on the banners of Tbilisi City Hall. These banners show the projects which have been done in Georgia and all of them have a phrase “I Love Georgia”.

I will write a story about it. I’ll investigate who has done them. Maybe it is a way of expressing protest or maybe children have made fun of it. Different kind of inscriptions is not unusual for Tbilisi. So I think they are made by a group of people, who has oppositional attitude to Georgian government.

Deadly Suicide Attack in Pakistan

2009-11-08T09:38:00.000-08:00

A suicide bomber killed an anti-Taliban village mayor and 11 other people in an attack near Pakistan's volatile city of Peshawar on the 8^th of November.

The bomber blew himself up as Abdul Malik, mayor of the village, was visiting a market crowded with people and goats being sold for the upcoming Muslim festival of Eid al-Adha, broadcasted Reuters. "Twelve people have been killed, including a four-year-old child, and 36 people are wounded," Mohammad Mukhtar, a doctor at Peshawar's main government hospital, told Reuters.

Police officials told the BBC that Mr Malik was on his way to the city when he stopped at the market. As BBC reported the bomber had been following Mr Malik in a van. BBC also broadcasted district coordination officer’s Sahibzada Anis’s comment: "Malik had survived several attacks on his life in the recent past, since he turned against the militants. But today the militants have finally killed him”.

According to CNN about 10 kilograms (22 lbs) of explosives were used in the attack which injured at least 36 people. Mayor’s son was also injured.

Little Wunderkind

2009-11-05T13:20:00.000-08:00

I’ve recently discovered 7 years old wunderkind. Andria Todua has unbelievable knowledge in several spheres. Todua is in the second form. But he knows much more than his classmates. Instead of school books he reads encyclopedias for children and other educational books. He knows English and every day watches Discovery TV.

Todua is advised in Astronomy. He knows all planets with their satellites, their order and names. He can define every object in the cosmos. He knows all capital names and their history. Todua also knows dead cities history like Pompeii and Babylon. He knows flags and loves drawing them. Todua’s father is a doctor and little wunderkind is interested in medicine, as well. He knows how internal organs are organized. Todua knows what way do the meal go in our body and what processes happen in us. He has health problems and has been operated three times but he isn’t afraid at all. Doctors were wonderstruck. After operations ha was talking about it very calmly and in medical details.

Even though I’ve used the words: Todua, he and know so many times and I don't have his photo, this little wunderkind has really great future.

Separators Have Kidnapped Four GeorgianTeenagers

2009-11-05T13:17:00.001-08:00

Russian occupationists and Osset separators kidnapped Gori region, village Tirdznisi’s four under age inhabitants: Levan Xmiadashvili, 17, Giorgi Romelashvili,14, Aleko Sabadze, 16 and Viktor Buchukuri, 16 at night 5^th November.

Imedi TV broadcasted, kidnappeds’ residence is unknown. According to selfdeclared government Georgians were kidnapped for raid attempting upon Cxinvali and they had four bombshells and explosive. Rustavi2 adds to this fact some more information. It broadcasted that Georgian teenagers are in Cxinvali. Tbilisi demands their unconditional release. Tbilisi as well as their family members denies that children had any weapon. They are waiting for puppet government’s decision. Rustavi 2 reported South Oseti’s temporary administration’s leader’s Dimitri Sanakoev’s comment. He estimated this fact as Russian provocation. Sanakoev doesn’t refuse that similar provocations from Russian ocupationists ans Osset separators may repeat. As the 1 TV broadcasted Georgian government appeals international organizations to react upon this fact. Legislators announce that it is necessary to enter international monitors in the occupied territories and control the situation in place.

Drug Can Kill Leukaemia Cells

2009-11-04T12:08:00.000-08:00

On the 4^th of November BBC announced that drug can destroy leukemia cells. Researchers claim a new drug has been developed which kills leukemia cells. Scientists say that the drug, PBOX-15, can destroy cancerous cells in adult patients who have shown resistance to other treatments.

The study was carried out by academics at Trinity College Dublin in partnership with the University of Sienna in Italy, St James's Hospital in Dublin, and Belfast City Hospital.Professor Mark Lawler of Trinity College Dublin says that in 3-5 years time the drug could be used as a potential therapy. "We are still at an early stage - now we have to move it on to see if there are any side effects," says he. Drug also successfully treats Chronic Lymphocyte Leukemia (CLL), a type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow which is the most common leukemia among adults in the western world. Researchers say that PBOX- 15 is more effective than the current medication used to treat the disease that are resistant to treatment.

Details of the study are published in the Cancer Research journal. Now this new discover need to be brought from the laboratory to the bedside so that they will benefit patients with this common form of leukemia.

Confusing and Unsuitable Street Names in Tbilisi

2009-11-03T21:06:00.000-08:00

My story idea is about street names in Tbilisi. They are quite a bit unsuitable and confusing.

On the 3^rd of November President Saakashvili opened the street named Olga Konskaia in Gldani-nadzaladevi district. Before this street had name after Novorarisiki. Why Novorasiski or why Olga Konskaia? The first name comes from the Soviet Union and has nothing in common to Tbilisi. It really had to be changed but new name is wrongly chosen, too. Olga Konskaia is co-author of the film “Russian Lessons” describing Georgian-Russian war. This woman has done good job for Georgia, but a street named after him in Tbilisi is too much.

Generally street names are divided into two groups: names which are too old and have nothing in common to Tbilisi. Most of them come from the Soviet Union. And another group: new names, but they are unsuitable for Tbilisi, as well.

Another problem connected to street names is that citizens don’t know new names and it causes confusion. Last week a woman in the mini-bus was surprised and confused by realizing that Sabcho Street had become Chikobava Street.

One more problem connected to street names is that some streets in Tbilisi have the same name. When a street is named after a person, it is called only by surname. So there are streets which names consists of different names but same surnames and it breeds confusion among citizens.

So system of street names has to organize reasonably and conveniently.

Georgian Culture Days in Florence

2009-11-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

Georgian Culture days have opened in Florence. It will last two days.

Within the International symposium of Georgian culture and art modern Georgian painters’ exhibition was opened in the archives building in Florence. Georgian scientists have read lectures about Georgia in Palazio Vekio at the same time. Program of Georgian Culture Days concludes a concert of the ensemble “Teatroni”, which will held tomorrow, on the 4^th of November. International Symposium is organized by Tbilsi City Hall and the Ministry of Culture.

This information was broadcasted only on Imedi TV. Other Georgian channels haven’t told anything about it. Imedi TV adds to this information comment of the deputy of Tbilisi mayor. “It is very good that Georgians are here in Florence”, said David Ninidze, “But at the same time we, representatives of Tbilisi City Hall and Georgian scientists are responsible to introduce our country and its past properly in this historical city”.

Some problems about Tbilisi State University

2009-11-02T12:41:00.000-08:00

My story idea is about Tbilisi State University (TSU). Two years ago the first building of TSU was closed for capital repairs. This building remains already a century and it really needed to be repaired. But other buildings of TSU are in more terrible conditions. Studying there is impossible.

Several hundred students studied in the first building and now they don’t have permanent place. Students have to go from the second building to the fifth building, from the Institute of Literature to the Institute of History. And this isn’t everything. As there weren’t extra auditoriums for new students, they have to attend lectures in the cellar of the second building. There are laboratories of Physics and Chemistry and therefore is so terrible smell that after several hours spent there, students may poison. There isn’t any kind of heating in the eighth building and in the Institute of History. So in winter there is so cold, that it is impossible even to move freely. Now the fifth building is being cosmetically repaired and students study with workers painting the walls.

As it was told that the first building will be opened in next autumn. But another problem has appeared. It is hotly discussed that the building is sold and is being repaired for the office of NATO. Hearing TSU in everybody’s mind floats up the first building. It is deeply connected to the names of great Georgian educationalists and it is injustice to change the building’s function.

President’s new initiative about amnesty

2009-11-02T12:39:00.000-08:00

On the second of November Tbilisi Parliamentary Bureau debated President’s new initiative about amnesty.

According to the new bill, punishment will be half diminished for the people who are judged for drug buying, saving and using by the first part of the two thousand and sixtieth and two thousand and seventy third chapters. This initiative was announced by the Head of the Parliament. He said that diminishing the punishment is one of the best ways of prisoners’ integration in the society. The majority as well as the minority of the Parliament was for the initiated bill, broadcasts 1TV.

Rustavi2 adds to this information comments of the members of the majority. “I think that Parliament will debate this issue as soon as possible. This is concerned about lots of people, who are in prison now, said Pavle Kublashvili, for them every spent in the prison is very important. So they will wait for the decision of the Parliament from today”.

Imedi broadcasts this news, as well and adds comment of Christian-democratic party. They are afraid that the bill may become base of selective justice.

self-profile

2009-11-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

Nana Mghebrishvili, 21-years old. She studies at the Institute of Public Affairs, faculty of Journalism and Media Management. Mghebrishvili has graduated from Tbilisi State University, faculty of Humanitarian Studies, Georgian philology. She has done course for city guides and has worked as a guide of Tbilisi for two months. Now Mghebrishvili works for the monthly magazine “Debiuti”. Magazine is targeted at teenagers and only beginner journalists work for it. She enjoys traveling and taking photos. She has a big photo collection about traveling. Now this collection consists of only Georgia’s photos. Nana loves making decorations by clay. Three years ago she ran her own little business selling handmade jewelry.

Underground crossing under the Heros' Square

2009-10-29T22:18:00.000-07:00

It’s impossible to go down most of underground crossings in Tbilisi. There is terrible dirtiness and therefore terrible stench. Public underground crossings have become public toilets. Some men think that if nobody sees him, he can urinate there. It is totally unacceptable. Immoral people must be punished.

I want to make my story especially about one underground crossing. It is located under the Heros’ Square. There is one of the heaviest traffic in Tbilisi and crossing it is forbidden. But people have to do it because kind of maniacs have added to smell of urine and dirtiness. They whistle to get girls attention and then show their genitals. In summer when it’s very hot and underground crossing is really stinking, they stand on Varazi, half hiding in bushes. Tbilisi State University, the Zoo and the Circus are located near it; so many adults and children are psychologically damaged by maniac’s action. Many people injure and even die by cur accidents on Heros’ Square while crossing the road. Problem is really alarming but police does nothing, as well as male passengers.

Russia's trial to annex Georgian Church

2009-10-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

On 29^th October 2009 the patriarchate of Russia announced that it would be useful if Church of the South Oseti and Afxazeti declare temporal canonical status. Head of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Patriarchate made this statement for Russian media. He said, that changed political frontiers haven’t influenced on the canonical of the Church. Russia acknowledges canonical frontiers of Georgian Church. But DE-facto Georgian Church isn’t in Afxazeti and clergy even can’t go there. We must help Afxazian clergy, which is in hard situation. Russia gives an explanation of this announcement. But it didn’t seem trustworthy. “The only reason of it is to protect churches and monasteries in Afxazeti and South Oseti from taking possessions by Moslems”, said the patriarchate of Russia, -“Moslems want to use with weakness of Afxazian Church”. This announcement was commented by the patriarchate and government of Georgia. In Tbilisi it was called as beginning of new church annexation. Now, after occupating Georgian Territories, Russia wants to rule the Church of Georgia, said Georgian historian Sergo Vardosanidzee. It was broadcasted on Imedi TV. Other Georgian channels haven’t televised it yet.

Increasing Number of Beggars

2009-10-28T15:02:00.000-07:00

Daily more and more beggars go from house to house and ask for different kind of help. As Georgian government say standard of living is becoming higher and it’s questionable why number of beggars is increasing.

In my building a beggar comes once or twice a week. They have different problems and most of them say that they aren’t beggars, just people who are at a loss. Some of them are hungry and don’t have money for food, some have ill relatives and need money for medicines, some collect money for charity, others are displaced people and need everything: money, meal, clothes... Shyer ones don’t beg, but sell icons and candles. People’s opinions about this differ. Majority of my neighbors don’t trust to their sincerity and don’t help. This stems from the multiplicity of beggars. As for me, I try to help them as much as I can. I’ve been in similar situation, too. Near my building new church is being built. My friend and I collected charity for it. But still, maybe some of them are hooligans and want to cheat people.

Anyway, increasing number of beggars is ought to discuss and find ways to improve general standard of living in

Georgia

Attract in Kabul

2009-10-28T14:58:00.000-07:00

On 28th October suicide bombers stormed a UN guesthouse in the Afghan capital Kabul.At least five UN workers were killed and three Afghans also died.
BBC broadcasted Taliban’s comment that the attack was the first step in its bid to disrupt next week's presidential run-off election. But the White House said such attacks would not derail the vote.
According to CNN, United Nations’ Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon told that the United Nations remains committed to working in Afghanistan, where workers from the world body have been helping the fledgling government plan a second round of the country's flawed presidential elections. CNN gives more information about victims - in addition to the five U.N. staff members who were killed the carnage also wounded nine others.
As Reuters says this wasn’t the first attack on foreigners and lists attacks in Kabul since 2008.

2009-10-18T22:21:00.000-07:00

Google Earth არის ინფორმაციული პროგრამა, რომლის სრული სახელწოდებაა დედამიწის სამგანზომილებიანი მიმომხილველი. ის შეიქმნა 2004 წელს Google-ის დაკვეთით. პროგრამა სამი განსხვავებული სახით არსებობს: Google Earth - უფასო ვერსია შეზღუდული ფუნქციებით, Google Earth Plus - შეიცავს დამატებით მომსახურებებს, Google Earth Pro - გამოიყენება კომერციული მიზნებისთვის. 2005 წლიდან პროგრამა ხელმისაწვდომია პერსონალური კომოუტერებისათვის Windows 2000 და შემდეგი, MAC OS X 10.3.9 და შემდეგი, Linux Kernel ოპერაციული სისტემებით.

2009-10-18T22:18:00.000-07:00

25 სექტემბერს GIPA-ს ჟურნალისტიკის სკოლის პირველკურსეელებისთვის ახალი ცხოვრება დაიწყო. მეც ერთ-ერთი ამ ბედნიერთაგანი აღმოვჩნდი.
პირველი ეფექტი ინგლისური წერის ლექტორმა მისტერ სკიპმა მოახდინა. თავიდან ცოტა დავიბენით, მაგრამ მისტერ სკიპმა თავისი უშუალობით მოგვიხსნა ყოველგვარი კომპლექსი და ჩვენც თამამად წარმოვაჩინეთ საკუთარი თავი ჩვენს ესეებში.
როცა GIPA -ში საბუთები შეგვქონდა, ალბათ ვერც წარმოვიდგენდით, რომ როდესმე ლელისა და სანდროს მსგავსი ლექტორები გვეყოლებოდა. ისინი ყოველდღიურად გვაოცებენ და გვმატებენ ენთუზიაზმს. მათი დამსახურებაა რომ ვიცი, როგორ უნდა გადავიღო ჰარმონია, კონტრასტი თუ პერსპექტივა. და ისიც ვიცი, ეს პოსტი როგორ დავცწერო Sylfaen-ში, რათა ყველამ შეძლოს მისი წაკითხვა ჩვენი ლამაზი ქართული ასოებით. და მერე თეთრი შურით შეშურდეს, რომ ის GIPA-ს დიდი ოჯახის წევრი არაა.