ArmInfo. From September 1, 2018, tariffs for transportation of goods with grain by rail to Armenia will be reduced by 52%. Such an agreement was achieved on the basis of negotiations between the South Caucasus Railways CJSC and Georgian Railways JSC.
According to the "SCR", the matter concerns the supply of grain by rail from the port of Poti to Armenia.
According to Business Georgia, the Minister of Finance of the country, by his order, which comes into force on September 15, completely banned the land transportation of wheat. However, it is not completely clear whether this order extends to transit carriers. According to the new order, it is possible to import or export wheat and corn in the customs territory of Georgia only by sea or by rail. "The agency sent a new order of the Minister of Finance to businessmen on August 21, but the same day Machavariani's agency changed its position and issued another order." Presumably, after the protest of drivers and transportation companies, the Ministry of Finance admitted the importation of only corn by means of land transport, "- writes the publication.
Private importers, who import wheat for years, require explanations. It is said that the new regulation will raise the prices of wheat and bakery products, and thousands of people employed in companies will remain unemployed. Importers evaluate the decision as a pressure on the business, and again demand a meeting with the Minister of Finance. Drivers working in companies are going to protest against the government's decision. They are going to block the central highway, if the order remains in force. The situation was commented on by the leader of the Labor Party of Georgia. According to Georgy Gugava, the closest associate of Bidzina Ivanishvili wants to harvest the wheat business with the help of the Agricom company, and Ufa Mamatsashvili and Otar Partskhaladze stand behind the order of the finance minister.
The company "Agricom", according to the publication, is one of the monopolists in this business. The company has a marine grain terminal in Poti.
In Armenia, however, it was estimated that the innovation would lead to an increase in grain prices by $ 50 per ton.