From ThE Editor

Jemal Inaishvili

I greet you, my devoted reader, and want to wish that the year 2006, which started with certain whims of weather and the world energy market, should be fruitful and happy.

We, on our part, offer a lot of novelties to our devoted readers that remained our subscribers. Firstly, it is our new web site www.geoeconomics. ge www.geoeconomic.com which is registered with European providers besides the local ones, so that it would be easily accessible to our foreign readers and to those people who want to familiarize themselves with Georgian economic news; secondly the format and design of our magazine are being changed. It will consist of 128 pages, out of which 25% will be colored ones and have new design. The magazine will be fulfilled in accordance with the western standards. The new design will be made by designer Aleksandre Kasradze. The rubrics will be changed as well – our main objective will be protection of business and consumers. That is why, besides the usual rubrics, we have added protection of consumer’s interests, which we present in this issue. We will also touch upon the latest changes related to inculcation of cash registers, for disusing of which punitive measures have been toughened, and the circle of entrepreneurs that are obliged to use cash registers and observe the transportation rules has been extended. The article presented under “Oil and Gas” rubric, in which we have considered the situation on the world and Georgian oil markets and the trends for 2006, is very important too. The world economy review and the regional aspect of this picture are very interesting, that is what is in store for the US and European markets as well as the growing Asian market, and what we should expect in the world economy in conditions of high oil prices and aggravated international conflicts. We offer you a short annotation of, in our opinion, very important economic phenomena in the world and in Georgia. The main subject of this issue under the “Economic Reforms” rubric will be the issues that have to do with reformation of standardization and metrology which concern each businessmen and citizen as a consumer. Here there are a lot of disputable and arguable matters as many things have changed since the beginning of 2006 – how our food economy and our market on the whole are ready for it, how right is the path we are following, and how we ful- fill the international obligations. In view of importance of this subject, we are going to continue its discussion in the next issue, and, taking into account your views, we may arrange a conference on these issues. Under “Accounting and Tax Bulletin” rubric we offer you a discussion on issues related to business accounting of non-profitmaking legal entities and registration of VAT payers. We start a discussion on economic security and money laundering issues, as well as polemics on economic problems. From this year we start sharing experience in business etiquette. We believe that both beginners and working businessmen will take interest in this issue. We traditionally offer you a review of the local market and statistical indicators, as well as the scientific rubric on the burning issues of the Georgian economy and scientific analysis. We hope that you will not find difficulty in advising us of your opinion and remarks on all the novelties, which is very important to us since we share a common cause – a contribution to building of the country’s economy.