Wheat importers demand to lift Georgian government ban on  transportation of wheat by road

ArmInfo.In Georgia, wheat importers staged a large-scale protest.  Having blocked the free economic zone in one of the districts of Tbilisi - Lilo, the protesters demand a revision of the government ban on import / export of wheat by road.

According to the opposition TV channel Rustavi 2, the protest action  has been going on for the second day, and the work of the FEZ in Lilo  continues to be paralyzed. Protesters promise to arrange a "real  blockade" of Georgia, paralyzing all the central highways of the  country, unless the country's authorities until the evening of  September 19 will not cancel the earlier decision to ban the  importation of wheat by road.  According to the statement of the  protest participants, the Georgian authorities left 25 thousand  people without work.

Heads of a number of companies importing wheat have already submitted  an administrative complaint to the government's office, demanding the  repeal of the order of the Minister of Finance to ban the import of  wheat into the country by road. In their view, the ban violates the  right to conduct free business activities, and in addition, will lead  to higher prices for wheat, flour and bread, which will negatively  affect the socio- economic situation of the country. "The decree of  the Minister of Finance actually establishes the monopoly position of  those who import wheat through rail and sea transport. The complaint  is signed by representatives of 15 companies, "the document reads.

It was reported earlier that the Minister of Finance of Georgia by  its 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. Private  importers, according to the Georgian "Business Georgia", who for  years import wheat into the country, require explanations.   Supposedly, the new regulation will cause rise of 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 demand a meeting with the Minister of Finance.   The situation was commented on by the leader of Georgia's Labor  Party, Giorgi Gugava, who said that Bidzina Ivanishvili's closest  associates want to establish monopoly on the wheat business with the  help of ''Agricom'' company, and the order of the Finance Minister is  backed by Ucha Mamatsashvili and Otar Partskhaladze. The "Agricom"  company 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. IT was reported that,  following negotiations between the South Caucasus Railways and  Georgian Railways, starting from September 1, 2018, tariffs for rail  freight to Armenia will be reduced by 52%. According to the "SCR",  the matter concerns the supply of grain by rail from the harbor of  Poti to Armenia.