Large Business About Negative Events Occurred in 2016 – Initiatives That Have not Met the Expectations of Businessmen

The excise tax increase, labeling for  soft drinks, seasonal tax for tourist business – it’s a small list of the government’s initiatives or unfulfilled promises which more or less caused trouble to the large businesses.

Nevertheless, the businessmen interviewed by  “Commersant” can’t name  specific factors which hindered  the development of their businesses in the current year.

Businessman Temur Chkhonia says that, in general, the economic expectations are determined by the economic team which rules the country. According to him, the team that manages the country’s economy was appointed at the end of the current year, hence, Chkonia does not want to talk about the past. In his words, it is  much easier to talk about expectations for 2017.

“Beer excise tax has increased, it was bad then and even now as well as  labeling of soft drinks. However, let’s not consider it separately. If we want to sell a lot of beer and attract more tourists the country  must be  rich. If the country is rich, then everything would be fine. I really hope for 2017, “Chkonia notes.

When asked of why we should not evaluate “Georgian Dream’s” activity, even though the collation didn’t come to power in the current year, only by the programs launched by the year-end, Chkonia says that at different times government faces  different situations. In particular, as Chkonia notes, Prime Minister’s optimistic speeches give a reason for optimism.

Businessman Lasha Papashvili says that  HoReCa business is constantly talking about the problems in the regions and asked the government to introduce  a seasonal tax. According to him, the government has not yet considered the request.

As Papashvili notes, everything is being done today to bankrupt the companies operating in  the sector.

Businessman Cezar  Chocheli believes that the national currency devaluation was the most negative event in 2016 which  negatively affected all business sectors.

The businessman planned to launch a 11 -million -dollar project, but it was postponed due to currency fluctuations. “We intended to start the production of essential oils, but the project’s  implementation has been postponed until next year,”Chocheli notes.