Political pressure groups and leaders:
Georgian independent deputies from Abkhaz government in exile;
separatists in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia
International organization participation:
ACCT (observer), BSEC, CE, CIS, EAPC, EBRD, FAO, GCTU, GUAM, IAEA,
IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO (correspondent), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, OAS
(observer), OIF (observer), OPCW, OSCE, PFP, SECI (observer), UN,
UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Vasil SIKHARULIDZE chancery: 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 602, Washington, DC 20005 telephone: [1] (202) 387-2390 FAX: [1] (202) 393-4537
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador John F. TEFFT embassy: 11 George Balanchine St., T'bilisi 0131 mailing address: 7060 T'bilisi Place, Washington, DC 20521-7060 telephone: [995] (32) 27-70-00 FAX: [995] (32) 53-23-10
Flag description:
white rectangle, in its central portion a red cross connecting all
four sides of the flag; in each of the four corners is a small red
bolnur-katskhuri cross; the five-cross flag appears to date back to
the 14th century
Economy Georgia
Economy - overview:
Georgia's main economic activities include the cultivation of
agricultural products such as grapes, citrus fruits, and hazelnuts;
mining of manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial
sector producing alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, metals,
machinery, and chemicals. The country imports the bulk of its energy
needs, including natural gas and oil products. It has sizeable but
underdeveloped hydropower capacity. Despite the severe damage the
economy has suffered due to civil strife, Georgia, with the help of
the IMF and World Bank, has made substantial economic gains since
2000, achieving positive GDP growth and curtailing inflation.
Georgia had suffered from a chronic failure to collect tax revenues;
however, the new government is making progress and has reformed the
tax code, improved tax administration, increased tax enforcement,
and cracked down on corruption. In addition, the reinvigorated
privatization process has met with success, supplementing government
expenditures on infrastructure, defense, and poverty reduction.
Despite customs and financial (tax) enforcement improvements,
smuggling is a drain on the economy. Georgia also suffers from
energy shortages due to aging and badly maintained infrastructure,
as well as poor management. Due to concerted reform efforts,
collection rates have improved considerably to roughly 60%, both in
T'bilisi and throughout the regions. Continued reform in the
management of state-owned power entities is essential to successful
privatization and onward sustainability in this sector. The country
is pinning its hopes for long-term growth on its role as a transit
state for pipelines and trade. The construction on the
Baku-T'bilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline and the Baku-T'bilisi-Erzerum gas
pipeline have brought much-needed investment and job opportunities.
Nevertheless, high energy prices have compounded the pressure on the
country's inefficient energy sector. Restructuring the sector and
finding energy supply alternatives to Russia remain major challenges.
GDP (purchasing power parity):
$17.79 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):
$5.272 billion (2006 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
8.8% (2006 est.)