After being steadily optimistic for most of 2014 and in the first quarter of 2015, Georgia’s business confidence dropped by 24.5 points to an all-time low level of 3.6 on a scale of [-100; 100] points. The survey, which included 168 firms, suggests that business confidence declined on all measures, across all sectors, and for all firm sizes. Moreover, it is reflected in business perceptions concerning both current performance and expectations concerning the future.

On Thursday, April 2nd, Giorgi Bakradze, the Advisor in Economics Issues to the President of the National Bank of Georgia, gave a public lecture organized by ISET. The main topic of his presentation was the Formation of Exchange Rate which addressed currently occurring exchange rate changes. More than 400 students and other interested individuals attended the meeting.

On 20-21st of March of every year, Azerbaijan celebrates “Novruz Bayram”, the oldest family holiday in the country. Azerbaijanis from the ISET community did not miss the opportunity to celebrate this great holiday with their ISET family as well, one week prior to the main festive. In the atmosphere of Azerbaijani folk music, ISET students, faculty, and staff tasted delicious dishes from national Azerbaijani cuisine: the Sebzi Pilaf (plov), Pakhlava, and tea with herbs.

On March 12, ISET hosted the Ukrainian delegation within the scope of the project “Ukraine out of Crises through Dialogue” implemented by the Caucasian House. The main purpose of the meeting was to share the experience of Georgian economic transformation throughout the last decade. It was the second meeting in the framework of this project. ISET hosted the first delegation in November 2014.

In December 2014 ISET-PI has been awarded a 5-year grant by the Swedish International Development Agency (Sida) providing the Institute with the opportunity to transform itself into the premier economic policy think-tank in the South Caucasus.