21 March 2009, 04:00
License on "Borzhomi" awarded to GG&MW Company
On March 20, the Ministry of Economic Development of Georgia held an open auction for the general licence on extraction and bottling of the famous mineral water "Borzhomi". The license for the term of 25 years was awarded to the Georgian Glass and Mineral Water (GG&MW) Company.
The GG&MW Company applied for the tender on March 16. The license, equivalent to 8.2 million US dollars, should be bought out before December.
The "Business Georgia" reports that 1 million laris out of the "Borzhomi" license fee paid by the Company will go on helping socially vulnerable families.
"The fact that the 'Borzhomi' license was again won by a Georgian company guarantees our protection for the forthcoming 25 years," said Lasha Zhvaniya, Minister of Economic Development of Georgia.
The GHN Agency adds that Zaza Kikvadze, Director General of "Borzhomi", emphasized in his turn that in spite of the fact that last year export sales dropped by 30-40 percent, the overall sales of "Borzhomi" made 107 million bottles.
Until Russia's introduction of the ban on "Borzhomi" imports, this country was the main importer of this mineral water. Out of total exports of "Borzhomi" making 85 percent of the overall output half went to the Russian market, 17 percent - to Ukraine and the remaining 33 percent was exported to 25 other foreign countries.
See earlier report: "Authorities of Georgia allow advertisement of strong drinks".
