ARMENIAN BUSINESS DELEGATION HOLDS MEETINGS IN AJARIA

BATUMI, AUGUST 15, ARMENPRESS: An Armenian delegation of businessmen
headed by Volodya Badalian, the co-chairman of the Armenian-Georgian
Business Association, who is also a member of parliament, is in the
Ajarian Autonomous Republic of Georgia meeting with local high-ranked
officials to discuss issues of mutual interests.

The delegation met with the head of the Ajarian tourism and resorts
department Temur Zoidze who spoke about tourism development in
Ajaria. He particularly said that this year they are expecting 60,000
tourists while last year their number reached only 14,000. During
May-June 6,500 Armenians have already visited Ajaria; last year their
number was 1,200.

It is expected that this year 15,000 Armenians will leave for Ajaria
to spend their holidays there. “We will do everything to continue
presenting Ajarian tourism potential in Armenia,” said T. Zoidze.

This year on the Ajarian border near the Choloki settlement a tourism
information center was opened which is the only one in Georgia. The
center provides information about hotels, places of interests
etc. Zoidze said in 2006 5 high-class hotels will function in Ajaria,
the roads will continue to be reconstructed, the infrastructures
will be improved and this will give an opportunity to receive 150,000
tourists in 2006, 15,000 of which from Armenia.

During the meeting with Ajarian finance and economy minister Kakha
Shavadze the latter underscored the amendments made this year in the
tax legislation aimed to give an impetus to further development of
tourism and economy in Ajaria. As to the turnover between Armenia and
Ajaria, the minister said its amount is increasing and added that the
amount of products transported to Armenia from Turkey through Batumi
is also increasing.

On his part, Badalian said that “Ajarian government is interested
in the expansion of ties between the two countries and integration
of economies as well as in making mutual investments. The
Armenian-Georgian Business Association created last year is working
on these issues,” said he. Badalian is also expected to meet today
with Georgian President Mikhail Saakashvili and Ajarian prime minister
Levan Varshalomidze.