On January 26, ISET hosted an Asian Development Bank (ADB) group with keynote speaker David Margonsztern, the Senior Urban Development Specialist of the Asian Development Bank (ADB). He gave a presentation entitled “The ADB’s Sustainable Transport Initiative (STI): Turning Strategies into realities”. The ADB started this project in 2010 with the priority of developing transport systems that are accessible, safe, environmentally friendly, and affordable in Asia.

On January 26, 2017, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) conducted its 13th Consultative Board Meeting, attended by the board members, Commission Chairs, ambassadors, bankers, and senior representatives of Georgian businesses. The Georgian government was represented by Mr. Giorgi Gakharia, the Minister of the Economy and Sustainable Development, and his deputy, Ms. Keti Bochorishvili.

On 25 January 2017, researchers from the APRC attended a stakeholder meeting of the European Neighborhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD). The meeting was organized by EVOLUXER, which is an implementing partner for capacity building to the Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency (ACDA).

Shota Bakhuashvili of the Class of 2017 decided to apply for an MA research scholarship at the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation after listening to an encouraging speech by Professor Norberto Pignatti during a lecture. Shota was ultimately successful, winning 6000 lari that he will use for books, papers, and travel to attend conferences.

The average cost of cooking one standard Imeretian Khachapuri in the last month of 2016 increased to 3.62 GEL, which is 4.6 % higher month-on-month (m/m, that is, compared to the previous month), and 4% lower year-on-year (y/y, that is, compared to the same month of last year).