ISET Economist Blog

10 February 2020

Irakli Kochlamazashvili

Tusheti Community Network Drives Development into the High Mountainous Regions of Georgia

Back in 2005, as there was no mobile coverage, my uncle drove dozens of kilometers to the Jvarboseli village in Tusheti to inform me that I had enrolled in university. Now, in 2020, there is still no mobile signal in most Tusheti villages, including Jvarboseli, however, people can use broadband internet to reach out to the world!

15 April 2019

Irakli Kochlamazashvili

The “Achilles’ Heel” of Georgia’s Agriculture – Incomplete Land Registration

“Commercialization of farmers can happen only if land consolidation occurs and farmers benefit from economies of scale” – Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Giorgi Kobulia stated at the Rural Conference 2019 held in Tbilisi last week.

07 May 2018

Irakli Kochlamazashvili, Phatima Mamardashvili

Georgia’s Economy Grows, Agriculture Shrinks: What Should We Do?

Since 2012, when the political party Georgian Dream took leadership of the country’s governance, economic [real] growth reached its highest rate in 2017 (5.0%). The drivers of this growth were construction (11.2%), hotels and restaurants (11.2%), and the financial sector (9.2%). However, a few sectors of the economy declined in 2017, and one was agriculture (-2.7%).

22 January 2018

Irakli Kochlamazashvili

Is the Georgian Beef Market Becoming More Western?

When visiting Georgia, the son of a French farmer may feel like cows are invading the countryside. They seem to be everywhere, roaming in little herds, cows, heifers, and calves all together, searching for every blade of grass to be grazed under the guard of their herdsman. From this point of view and many others, including amazing landscapes, Saperavi wine, khinkali and mtsvadi, the Georgian countryside is very surprising and interesting!

16 October 2017

Nino Kakulia, Irakli Kochlamazashvili, Salome Gelashvili

Strong Leader = Successful Team?!

The cooperative movement in Georgia started back in 2013 with EU support, through the launching of the ENPARD project, a major component of which is the development of agricultural cooperatives across Georgia.

03 July 2017

Irakli Kochlamazashvili, Phatima Mamardashvili

Georgian Wool: Can It Become the “Golden Fleece” Again?

Back in 2014, Georgia and the European Union (EU) signed an Association Agreement, which included the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) between the EU and Georgia. While this agreement creates new opportunities for Georgia’s agricultural exports, high food safety standards in the EU market make it difficult to fully utilize these opportunities. This is particularly true for products of animal origin, which are subject to strict regulations.

ISET Economist Blog

A blog about economics in the South Caucasus financed within the institutional grant by the Government of Sweden.