The Deputy Minister of Finance, Tsotne Kavelashvili reported the execution of the first quarter of the State Budget 2022 in the parliament yesterday.
According to the rapporteur, as per the preliminary estimates of the National Statistics Office of Georgia, the average real growth in the first quarter of 2022 was 14.4%. In March, the annual inflation rate was 11.8%, while the average inflation rate was 11.7%. In March 2022, compared to December 2021, the GEL exchange rate depreciated by 0.1 percent against the US dollar and stood at 3.1 GEL per US dollar. Foreign trade turnover in goods in the first quarter amounted to 3,865.0M US dollars, which is 37.9% more than the corresponding figure of the previous year; Of this, exports amounted to 1,171.8M USD and imports to 2,693.2M USD.
"Georgia's largest trading partner in the first quarter is the European Union, whose share in the total trade turnover is 20.8%. The largest trading partners also include Turkey (14.6%), China (12.0%), Russia (9.9%), and Azerbaijan (9.2%)”, - Tsotne Kavlashvili stated.
According to the rapporteur, Georgia received 576.5K international visitors from January to March, which is 328.0 percent more than the same period last year. Tourism brought in 393.7 million dollars. Due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Georgia, the Georgian government simplified the assessment of the status of Georgian cultural heritage specimens, project documentation/rehabilitation, and rebuilding works as part of the anti-crisis plan. 18 national contests in 50 sports were held as part of governmental assistance programs, as well as participation in 38 international sports competitions and 55 training camps in Georgia and abroad. Under the "Measures for Social Protection and Promotion of Cultural and Sports Figures" initiative, 852 athletes, coaches, and medical personnel received scholarships. Under the "Veteran Athletes and Sports Workers Social Assistance Program," 305 veteran athletes and sports workers received assistance to improve their material and social status; 114 People's Artists of Georgia, People's Artists, and laureates of the Rustaveli Prize were given scholarships, and 21 honored figures of literature and art were given social assistance. Within the context of the "Olympic Champions Scholarships" initiative, 125 athletes have been awarded scholarships.
The Committees took note of the document.
