Shota Burjanadze, President of the Restaurant Association of Georgia, urges the government to reform the tax system amid rising food prices. He says the flat 18% VAT is a bureaucratic convenience and should be differentiated by product origin, with lower rates for Georgian-made goods and higher rates for imports.
Burjanadze emphasizes that the state should focus on raising wages rather than controlling prices. He argues that sustainable price regulation comes from increased production, job creation, and economic growth, while artificial price controls offer only short-term relief and can harm the market long-term.
His remarks coincide with the government’s new measures to monitor food pricing, including a Coordinating Commission chaired by the Prime Minister and an upcoming parliamentary commission. The State Security Service has also begun reviewing consumer prices following official directives.
