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Georgia is one of the ancient economic,
political and historical regions in the world. Recently, during
excavation near town Dmanisi, was found the remainder of the fossil
human the age of which is approximately 1.8 million years. Nowadays
this is the oldest fossil man in West Euroasian area.
The history of Georgian State envelopes 2500 years and is subdivided into
the
following periods: Early Ancient (the end of the III cent. B.C.), Late
Ancient (the IV cent. B.C. – V cent.), Early Feudal (VI - X cent.),
Developed Feudal (XI - the first quarter of the XIII cent.), Political
Decomposition of Feudal (XIII - XV cent.), Feudal Relations Stagnation
(XVI - XVII cent.), Beginning of Feudal Decomposition(XVIII cent.),
Annexation of Georgia by Russian Empire (1801 - 1878), Development of
Capitalism. Periods after National and Social Liberating actions (the
middle of the XIX - 1917), temporary revival of Independence and
Reconquer of Georgia by Russia (1918 - 1921), Georgia in the Soviet
period and Revival of Independence (1921 - 1992), Building of
Independen Democratic State (from the 9th of April 1991).
A declaration of Christianity as a State Religion of Iberia
(Georgia), was occurred approximately in 337.
The Georgian language is one of the oldest in the world;
the
written language stands apart of fourteen ancient written languages in the
world. The oldest Georgian writings, kept until now, which are written
by an original script, are dated the V cent.
Issue, from Geographical location, Georgia was the
through-passage country and a lot of ancient ways crossed it from
North to South, from East to West. The oldest is Silk Road and at
present this is TRACECA.
On July 31 1992, Georgia was adopted by the UN
Organization as its 179th plenipotentiary member. Starting on October
23, 2002, after Rose Revolution, a new democratic period of
development of Georgia has begun.
GENERAL INFO
- Country Name: Georgia
- Conventional long form: none
- Conventional short form: Georgia
- Local long form: none
- Local short form: Sakartvelo
- Former: Georgian Soviet Socialist Republic
- Data code: GG
- Government type: Republic
- Capital: Tbilisi
- Territory: 69700 Sq-km
- Population: 4,960,951 (July 2002 est.)
- Nationality: Georgian's
- Ethnic groups: Georgian 70.1%, Armenian 8.1%, Russian 6.3%, Azeri
5.7%, Ossetian
- 3%, Abkhaz 1.8%, others 5%.
- Religion: Georgian Orthodox 65%, Muslim 11%, Russian Orthodox 10%,
- Armenian Apostolic 8%, unknown 6%
- Languages: Georgian 71% (official), Russian 9%, Armenian 7%, Azeri
6%, others 7%
- note: Abkhaz is the official language in Abkhazia
- Independence: 9 April 1991 (from Soviet Union)
- National Holiday: Independence Day, 26 May (1991)
ECONOMIC DATA
Economy-overview
Georgia's economy has traditionally revolved around the Black Sea
tourism; cultivation of citrus fruits, tea, and grapes; mining of
manganese and copper; and output of a small industrial sector
producing wine, metals, machinery, chemicals, and textiles. The
country imports the bulk of its energy needs, including natural gas
and oil products. Its only sizable internal energy resource is
hydropower. Despite the severe damage the economy has suffered due to
civil strife, Georgia, with the help of the IMF and World Bank, made
substantial economic gains since 1995, increasing GDP growth and
slashing inflation. Georgia also still suffers from energy shortages;
it privatized the distribution network in 1998, and deliveries are
steadily improving. Georgia is pinning its hopes for long-term
recovery on the development of an international transportation
corridor through the key Black Sea ports of Poti and Batumi.
The Caspian oil pipe-line
was built. The construction
of new Transcaucasian Gas main Shakh-Deniz has started.
- GDP - per capita purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2001 est.)
- EXPORTS $515 million (2002 est.)
- Commodities: scrap metal, machinery, chemicals; fuel re-exports;
citrus fruits, tea, wine
- Partners: Russia 23.0%, Turkey 21.5%, Azerbaijan 3.3%, US 3.0%,
Germany 2.5% (2001)
- IMPORTS $750 million (2002 est.)
- Commodities: fuels, machinery and parts, transport equipment, grain
and other foods,
- pharmaceuticals
- Partners: Turkey 15.3%, Russia 13.3%, Azerbaijan 10.7%, Germany
10.1%, US 4.1% (2001)
- Ports and Harbour Batumi, Poti, Sokhumi
- Currency: Lari (GEL) |
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