Tag Archives: drinks

Kazakhstan justifies soft drinks tax

SEPT. 7 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — The Kazakh government said a new tax on the extraction of groundwater is justified despite complaints from soft drinks producers, as companies have previously underpaid for water. “It is important to note that we have a serious shortage of drinking water in Kazakhstan,” Shafkhat Kudabayev, of the State Revenue Committee, told vlast.kz. The soft drink industry lobby groups have said the new tax will put companies out of business.

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(News report from Issue No. 247, published on Sept. 11 2015)

EEU goods reach Kyrgyzstan

SEPT. 4 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Belarusian dairy producer Turovsky Milk Factory exported its first batch of products to Kyrgyzstan, media reported quoting a company spokesman. The shipment is notable because it appears to suggest that, in this instance, the concept of the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union trade bloc is working.

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(News report from Issue No. 247, published on Sept. 11 2015)

Tajik soft drink produces opens new factory

SEPT. 7 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Obi Zulol, a Tajik soft drink producer, opened a new, 3.7m somoni ($600,000) factory in Dushanbe. The company holds the licence to produce and sell brands from Canadian distributor Cott Corporation, such as RC Cola. This is Obi Zulol’s second soft drinks plant in Dushanbe.

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(News report from Issue No. 247, published on Sept. 11 2015)

Water tax to affect Kazakh soft drinks industry

AUG. 28 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – The Kazakh State Revenue Committee plans to introduce a new tax on the use of underground water, a levy soft drinks manufacturers said will make production unprofitable. The new tax of 1,982 tenge ($8) per cubic metre of extracted water is a 200-fold increase on the previous tax, Aliya Mamytbayeva, director of the Association of Soft Drink Manufacturers, told vlast.kz.

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(News report from Issue No. 246, published on Sept. 4 2015)

China imports Georgian wine

JULY 15 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – China imported around 23% more Georgian wine in the first half of this year from last year, new figures showed, making it one of Georgia’s fifth most important market. Georgia’s agriculture minister, Otar Danelia, was in Beijing to meet his Chinese counterpart.

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(News report from Issue No. 240, published on July 16 2015)

Ukraine’s civil war hits Georgia’s winemakers

TBILISI/GEORGIA, MAY 13 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — The second Saturday of May is an important date in Tbilisi’s calendar, as the New Wine Festival and its rivers of free wine kick off the capital’s summer party season.

But, although there were a record number of participants, this year’s festival was set against the backdrop of falling Georgian wine exports.

The 6th annual New Wine festival, organized by the Wine Club of Georgia, attracted thousands of visitors to sample 72 different types of local wine produced by more than 100 different companies and small family wineries.

“It is a great place to introduce people to different wines and to attract future customers,” Alex Rodzianko, an American who started his own winery in Georgia a couple of years ago and participated in the wine festival for the first time, said as he poured full glasses of amber wine to a circle of Georgians.

But life is less rosy for bigger companies, which target foreign markets. Last week the National Wine Agency released a report, which said that Georgian wine exports dropped by 58% in the first quarter of 2015 compared to the same period in 2014.

In total, in 2015 Georgia exported over 6m litres of wine worth $23m to 26 countries but the two biggest markets, Russia and Ukraine, reduced their Georgian wine consumption by 76% and 57% accordingly. Blame war in Ukraine and an economic recession in Russia.

Teliani Valley, one of the better-known Georgian winemakers, exports 80% of its produce. However their export sales are dwindling. Media representative Nutsa Avalishvili said that the company is now trying to expand into other countries such as Poland, Kazakhstan, China and the US to compensate for losses.

“The main reason for dropping sales in Ukraine is the political situation and crisis in that country,” she said.

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(News report from Issue No. 231, published on May 13 2015)

German brewery to open in Georgia

APRIL 30 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Germany’s Kaltenberg beer, which traces its roots back to the Bavarian royal family, will open a brewery in Georgia. It may have a reputation as a wine-making country but Georgia is also a major consumer of beer.

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(News report from Issue No. 230, published on May 6 2015)

Alcohol prices increase in Georgia by 10%

APRIL 3 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Alcohol prices in Georgia have increased by 10% over the past year, the national statistics agency said.

Alongside the rising price of food (3.7%) and healthcare (6%) the cost increase in Alcohol is a major driver of overall inflation. Annualised inflation for March measured 2.6%, up from 1.3% in April.

Analysts blame a fall in the value of the lari currency for this price rise but new taxes slapped on alcohol from March 1 have also driven up prices.

The government increased tax on beer by 50% and on hard liquor by 100%. It has said the tax will bring in an extra 100m lari ($45m) and harmonise Georgia’s tax laws with the EU.
And for now, it appears, thirsty consumers and bar owners in Tbilisi are shouldering the price rises.

Cory Greenberg, owner of Dive Bar in Tbilisi said distributors wanted more for a litre of beer but he has promised to keep prices steady.

“Not so much for charity, but because it is smart,” he said. “Let the others raise their prices and business will come to us.”
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(News report from Issue No. 226, published on April 8 2015)

Tax on alcohol in Georgia rises

MARCH 1 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) – Georgia increased the amount of tax imposed on alcoholic drinks by 50% to 60 tetri. The government said the rise is needed to align its tax base with EU regulations. Opponents said this is not the case and that it is just trying to raise extra revenues.
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(News report from Issue No. 221, published on March 4 2015)

Coca-Cola to build Dushanbe factory

JAN. 13 2015 (The Conway Bulletin) — Tajikistan has given the go-ahead for Turkish Coca-Cola Icecek, which produces and distributes Coca-Cola products across Central Asia, to build its first bottling plant in Dushanbe, media reported. The project will cost $50m and generate up to 500 new jobs.

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(News report from Issue No. 214, published on Jan. 14 2015)