The authors of the legislative initiative are members of parliament: Shota Berekashvili, Giorgi Barvenashvili, Tornike Berekashvili, Anton Obolashvili and Mariam Lashkhi.According to the amendments, a new category of licenses will be introduced in a systematic-electronic form for the international organization of slot machines and totalizator games. The introduction of this framework will encourage the legal entry of gambling operators registered in other countries into Georgia. However, according to the draft law, only foreign citizens and stateless persons will have the right to play on these platforms, while Georgian citizens will be automatically banned from accessing the aforementioned Internet websites.According to the initiators, the state offers a tax break to online casinos intended only for foreigners - they will be taxed at a lower 5% gross profit tax (GGR) rate, instead of the 20% that standard online casinos available to Georgian citizens are taxed at. The monthly 5% tax rate will be charged on the difference between the bets received and the winnings paid out.In addition, each type of international permit will be issued for a period of 5 years and its annual fee will be set at 100,000 GEL. Violation of permit conditions or the deadline for payment of fees will be subject to a fine of 20,000 GEL. The draft law also tightens restrictions on Internet domains: if under the current rules, a maximum of 2 websites could be operated with 1 permit, the new law reduces the limit to 1 website per permit, and a transitional period will apply to existing permits for the remaining period of their validity.The explanatory note to the draft law emphasizes that, on the one hand, the reform will ensure the protection of Georgian citizens from harmful influences, and on the other hand, it will promote the growth of foreign direct investment, the development of the service sector, the entry of highly qualified technological and marketing personnel into the country, and the accumulation of additional revenues in the state budget.

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The legislative amendments were authored and initiated by Members of Parliament Paata Kvizhinadze, Irakli Kheladze, Bezhan Tsakadze, Zurab Rurua, Giorgi Barvenashvili, and Levan Machavariani.Under the new regulations, a transitional period will begin in 2027, during which the tax authority will exclusively register cash registers that meet the new standard. Meanwhile, businesses will be allowed to use previously registered older cash registers and terminals without interruption until May 1, 2028.The law stipulates that a single operator, selected by the Government of Georgia, will handle both the supply and subsequent technical maintenance of the new equipment. The government will determine the service fees and specific payment procedures at a later stage.While the core components of these legislative changes have already taken effect, the mandatory requirements of the new system will be phased in incrementally through 2027 and 2028.Penalties are also being tightened under the new framework. Operating without a cash register or failing to use one during customer transactions will result in a 200 GEL fine for business entities.

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The giant behind brands including Gillette and Pampers had continued to advertise with Imedi TV despite the company being flagged on the UK government sanctions list in February. An internal investigation carried out by John Brandon, a senior director and head of P&G’s European ethics and compliance office, led to the firm cancelling their business with the media company on Monday, City AM understands.A similar probe has been launched by Nestle, led by the company’s global head of legal Leanne Geale, City AM reported yesterday. Other global brands, including the commercial arm of the BBC, cut ties as soon as Imedi was listed as a sanctioned company by the Foreign Office.Procter & Gamble has faced criticism over its Russian operations since the start of the war in Ukraine. In February 2023 it was named as an “international sponsor of war” by Ukraine’s National Agency for Corruption Prevention despite scaling back its operations there, including discontinuing new capital investments and suspending its media, advertising, and promotional activity.The Georgian channel, founded in 2003 by tycoon Badri Patarkatsishvili, is listed on the official UK sanctions list and described as spreading “deliberately misleading information concerning Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.”Imedi TV “provides support for or promotes a policy or action which destabilises Ukraine or undermines or threatens the territorial integrity, sovereignty or independence of Ukraine,” the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) said.

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According to available information, the businessman had been battling a severe form of lung cancer for the past few months and was undergoing treatment in the United States.Temur Ugulava is credited with founding the Adjara Group, a holding company that is crucial to the country's economy and tourism sector, and has set a completely new standard in Georgian hospitality. He created internationally recognized authentic Georgian brands: Rooms Hotels (in Tbilisi, Stepantsminda, Bakuriani and Batumi) and the Stamba Hotel. His name is also associated with the projects of the Tbilisi Holiday Inn, the popular multifunctional hostel "Fabrika", and the cultural space "Radio City".In addition to tourism, Temur Ugulava's business activities have included a number of sectors: Technology and online platforms: He founded the online shopping platform "Veli.store", the innovative scooter rental application "Scroll" and the coworking space D Block. Gambling and aviation: He owned the largest company in the Georgian online gambling sector "Adjarabet" and the casino "Adjara", which was acquired by the global giant Flutter Entertainment in 2019, which is considered one of the largest deals in the history of Georgian business. The "Aviator" brand is also associated with his name. Media and Sports: Among the projects implemented by the businessman is the international sports television and platform Setanta Sports, which broadcasts in several countries. Adjara Group also manages the Tbilisi Sports Palace. Agriculture: The holding owns the company Udabno, which is one of the largest managers of almond orchards in the country.

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The increase was observed in the production value of the business sector as well. In the I quarterof 2026, production value equaled 23.3 billion GEL, which is 12.4 percent more year-on-year.In the I quarter of 2026, total purchases of goods and services carried out by enterprises equaled 29.5 billion GEL (year-on-year 2.5 percent more), while the purchase of goods and services for resale amounted to 17.9 billion GEL (year-on-year 4.0 percent more).In the I quarter of 2026, the average number of persons employed in business sector equaled 799.4 thousand, which is year-on-year 3.7 percent more. Out of the total number of persons employed, 44.2 percent were female and 55.8 percent were male.Large businesses employed 43.6 percent of total number of persons, while 19.4 percent were employed by medium, and 37.0 percent - by small businesses.The total number of employees amounted to 743.7 thousand (year-on-year 3.5 percent more) and the total personnel costs of enterprises equaled 5 319.0 million GEL (year-on-year 11.4 percent more).In the I quarter of 2026, average monthly remuneration of employees equaled 2 335.9 GEL (166.3 GEL increase year-on-year), while remuneration specifically for women employees was 1 837.6 GEL (126.1 GEL increase year-on-year).Average monthly remuneration by size of enterprises was as follows:• Large business - 2 513.5 GEL;• Medium size business - 2 786.5 GEL;• Small business - 1 787.2 GEL.In the I quarter of 2026, the arts, entertainment and recreation had the highest share (36.8 percent) in the total turnover in business sector, followed by trade sector (including repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) with 31.4 percent share, manufacturing – with 7.4 percent, construction – with 4.5 percent, transportation and storage – with 4.5 percent, information and communication – with 4.4 percent, and other sectors – with 10.9 percent share.In the I quarter of 2026, trade (wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles), manufacturing, and human health and social work activities led business sector by number of employed persons with 29.3 percent, 11.4 percent, and 9.4 percent shares, respectively. Enterprises engaged in transportation and storage (8.1 percent), construction activities (7.5 percent), information and communication (6.3 percent), and accommodation and food service activities (5.5 percent) also had a significant share though.

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According to the explanatory note to the draft law, the current sanctions in a number of cases fail to provide a preventive function of administrative liability. The scope of the new regulation includes such large entities as: energy and industrial facilities, oil depots, mineral miners, metallurgical and chemical plants, infrastructure constructions and facilities that have wastewater.The main financial sanctions provided for by the draft law: Activities without an environmental decision: will be fined from 25,000 to 30,000 GEL (under the current regulation, the sanction was from 7,000 to 10,000 GEL). Activities without a screening procedure: will be determined from 7,000 to 10,000 GEL, and in case of repeated violation - 20,000 GEL. Arbitrary change of operating conditions: Changing the conditions without a relevant decision will result in a fine of 25,000 to 30,000 GEL (instead of 7,000 - 10,000 GEL), and a repeated case will result in a fine of 50,000 GEL (the current sanction was 14,000 GEL). Failure to fulfill obligations and failure to apply: A person who does not apply to the agency for an environmental decision will be warned for the first time, and will be fined 5,000 GEL for a repeated violation. The legislative package also changes the rules of administration. In particular, employees of the Environmental Supervision Department are authorized to consider violations on the spot and issue a penalty receipt in cases where additional investigation is not required. In addition, the agency will be able to publicly publish fine receipts on its website if the violator fails to submit the document twice. In such a situation, the receipt will automatically be considered submitted on the 30th day after publication.According to the authors, tightening sanctions will also lead to an increase in state budget revenues, although the specific financial effect will be independent of the number of violations recorded.

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Revenue of the business increased by 25.8% y-o-y to GEL 6.7 million in 1Q26. The growth was driven by a 32.3% y-o-y increase in the number of cars serviced during the quarter. Operating expenses were up by 6.2% y-o-y in 1Q26, primarily reflecting higher salary expenses associated with the business expansion. Consequently, the 1Q26 EBITDA increased by 38.9% y-o-y to GEL 3.5 million.Periodic technical inspection (PTI) business | Revenue of the business increased by 32.3% y-o-y to GEL 7.6 million in 4Q25 and by 19.0% y-o-y to GEL 27.8 million in FY25. The growth was driven by a 38.6% and 22.1% yo-y increase in the number of cars serviced during 4Q25 and FY25, respectively. Operating expenses were up by 31.4% y-o-y in 4Q25 (up 17.3% y-o-y in FY25), primarily reflecting higher salary expenses associated with the business expansion. Consequently, the 4Q25 EBITDA increased by 37.0% y-o-y to GEL 3.8 million (up 23.8% y-oy to GEL 15.2 million in FY25).

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The undertakings concerned are active in the supply and distribution of automotive products. For the purposes of the competitive assessment, the Agency assessed the effects of the transaction on the markets for automotive batteries, tires and lubricants, considered at the import level.In 2025, a total of 138 undertakings were active in the automotive tire market nationwide at the import level. The total market size amounted to GEL 190 730 782 (customs value). The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) stood at 1293.3 prior to the concentration and is expected to increase to 1334.2 following its implementation, resulting in a change of ΔHHI = 40.9.With regard to automotive lubricants, in 2025 a total of 245 undertakings were active at the import level in Georgia. The total market size amounted to GEL 149 894 366 (customs value). The Herfindahl-Hirschman Index (HHI) was 309.5 prior to the transaction and is expected to increase to 343.3 following its implementation, corresponding to a ΔHHI of 33.8.As regards automotive batteries, 119 undertakings were active at the import level nationwide in 2025. The total market size reached GEL 69 623 714 (customs value). The HHI amounted to 1344.3 prior to the transaction and is expected to increase to 1551.4 post-transaction, resulting in a ΔHHI of 207.1.The Agency’s assessment indicates that the market for automotive lubricants at the import level is characterised by a low level of concentration, with only a limited increment in the HHI. By contrast, the markets for automotive tires and batteries are moderately concentrated, with HHI levels slightly exceeding the threshold for low concentration. In both cases, however, the increment in concentration (ΔHHI) remains below 250, indicating that the transaction does not raise serious doubts as to its compatibility with the competitive environment.In 2026, the Georgian Competition and Consumer Agency approved a total of 5 concentrations.

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According to him, the reform is aimed at ensuring that quality products are produced only from quality raw materials, which makes it necessary to regulate the process of vineyard cultivation.“The wine quality reform is aimed at strengthening the Georgian wine industry, which will support the development of wine companies and small wineries. In order to have quality wine, the country must have quality vineyards, which means that vineyard cultivation must be subject to regulations,” Vacharadze noted.Who will the new rules apply to?The agency emphasizes that the regulation applies only to entrepreneurial and commercial activities and does not limit individuals. Entrepreneurial vineyard: Starting from May 1, the cultivation or restoration-renewal of a vineyard for commercial purposes will be possible only with the consent of the agency (the regulation does not apply to individuals who are building a vineyard for their own consumption). Service fee: The National Wine Agency will issue a permit for vineyard cultivation free of charge. According to Zurab Vacharadze, the tightening of regulations was also due to the current situation on the world market. According to the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV), wine consumption is at its lowest level in the world since 1961, which is fueling competition among producers.“Against the backdrop of overproduction, emphasis should be placed on the quality of raw materials and the final product. Approval for the cultivation of vineyards will be issued in all wine-producing countries of the European Union,” he added.According to the agency, according to statistics from recent years, approximately 500 hectares of new vineyards are being built in Georgia annually. Given the current pace, the new regulation will affect an average of about 100 people per year.The rules for cultivating an entrepreneurial vineyard include such important stages as the selection of varieties and rootstocks, soil preparation, and agrotechnical measures, which ultimately ensure high productivity and quality of the vineyard.On March 5, Transparency International Georgia (TI) assessed the new draft law “On Vine and Wine,” which had already been submitted to parliament at that time, as containing corruption risks and damaging to small entrepreneurs. The organization stated that the planned changes, which envisage the introduction of mandatory permits for vineyard cultivation and an increase in the bureaucratic burden for family wineries, give the National Wine Agency “opaque power” and create a threat of oppression of small players in the market.“The draft law significantly increases the power of the National Wine Agency, which will no longer only have the function of a controller, but also become a regulator of access to the market,” TI wrote.

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In the clearance economic zone, out of 51 samples taken as a result of inspections of 22 companies, violations were detected in 6 samples from 3 companies.During the same period, 10 state supervisions were carried out in 4 companies, which aims to determine the compliance of the wine technological process in enterprises with the requirements specified by Georgian legislation. No violations were detected in 5 samples taken.As for the local market, 101 samples from 56 companies were checked within the framework of 6 controls. Violations were detected in 49 samples from 33 companies.The agency notes that compared to the same period last year, the number of violations has decreased, which indicates the effectiveness of the wine quality control system.According to the agency, the relevant departments of the National Wine Agency continue to continuously monitor the quality of alcoholic beverages so that Georgian wine fully meets international standards, maintains competitiveness and further increases demand in global markets.

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