On October 10, 2007 was held the Meeting of the Government of Georgia. The agenda consisted of 51 items.
In the beginning of the Meeting the Prime Minister of Georgia Zurab Noghaideli congratulated the Government members Eka Tkeshekashvili and Giorgi Arveladze with birth of their children. The Prime Minister of Georgia asked the minister for agriculture Peter Tsiskarishvili to inform the Government members about the course of vintage.
The minister of agriculture of Georgia told to the Government members that up today in Kakheti Region has been gathered about two-thirds in the vines, and 37800 tons grapes have been treated at wineries. Out of this amount up to 26000 tons grapes are of Saperavi vine species, up to 9000 tons - Rkatsiteli vine species, the erst amount is of the hybrid vine species. The vintage is in process in Dedoplistskaro and Sagarejo regions as well as in the Kajreti area of Gurjaani Region which is located rather high over the sea level and where the vine obtains the vintage condition late.
The minister highlighted that during the total vintage period the total population of all Georgia had a continuous demand for grapes, that form the one side is conditioned by the effective new legislative base abd on the other side, by mobilization of the Georgian people against the ban declared by Russia. This year Kakheti will supply to other regions of Georgia the record-breaking quantity of grapes, about 50000 tons. In the nearest future Racha wineries will also start treatment of vine.
Thereafter, the minister stated that this year the vine is of very high-quality. For example, this year only 26000 tons of Saperavi vine species will be treated that is more than the vine of all species treated at wineries last year, or 25000 tons. Georgian wine companies are competitive and are able to produce wine at comparatively low prices and to improve its quality, develop new markets, hold their place in the wine markets worldwide and not to orient to Russia and CIS countries only as earlier. The initiative of the Georgian President on financing of efforts aimed at popularization of Georgian wines in new markets serves just this goal. There began the development of special program and is necessary the consulting with the Ministry of Economic Development and managers of wineries and wine companies in order to solve the problem of financing of these efforts. We are carrying out successful struggle against falsification; those manufacturers who had the falsified wine were punished. The implemented measures were very effective, mentioned the minister and promised that the year 2007 will be the first year when there will be no falsified wine in Georgia.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the minister for agriculture for the provided information and asked the minister for labor, health and social affairs to inform the Government members about the state subsidies program.
The minister for labor, health and social affairs of Georgia informed the members of the Government about the beginning of work on the state subsidies program, where together with the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs are involved the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Energy, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Education and Science. He said that at the first stage is processed the database which shall ensure distribution of subsidies to all those who shall receive it. In practice all preparatory operations have been completed. At present technical issues are in process of agreement, whereafter on the next Monday will begin distribution of subsidies according to the President's order. This will be the 100-lari subsidies which will be individually allotted to 1200000 persons where 835000 are pensioners, 400000 - socially vulnerable people, 74000 - teachers. At first the subsidies will be distributed in Tbilisi, the, step-by-step - to regions. Together with the Ministry of Agriculture we are working on distribution of 50-50 kg flour to the rural population. The printing of vouchers started. The minister stated that in this direction, the top attention shall be paid to the information campaign in order to make the population aware of how and where shall be those vouchers put in effect. Today at the subsidies agency will be finally established the staff which will involve the representatives of local self-government as well. The work shall be coordinated in order to implement the process of distribution of vouchers in good manner.
The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the minister for labor, health and social affairs for the provided information and underlined that currently, under the instruction of the President of Georgia, the Government's task is to provide the Georgian population with necessary conditions for the winter period. With this purpose before the end of the current week shall be completed the spadework subject to the proper resolution to be made at the today Meeting and from the next week will begin distribution of subsidies, alter - distribution of flour in regions.
Organizational Department of the Chancellery of the Government of Georgia