“The  losses caused by the pandemic to the restaurant business in Georgia are enormous - 250,000 people were left without work. If the business does not resume operation, t Germany, France, and Israel combined will not be enough for migrant workers from Georgia, ” Shota Burjanadze, chairman  of the Georgian Restaurateurs Association, says.

According to Burjanadze, only 700 out of 10,000 restaurants  registered in Georgia resumed work after the government’s decision, according to which, restaurants were allowed to t serve food and drink in the open spaces .

“The country is facing three main problems -  an economic crisis, coronavirus, a political crisis. The only way to solve these three problems simultaneously is to improve the economic situation. After the change of government that, in fact, has not changed, it has a chance to start gradually lifting restrictions and open up the economy. The restaurants should be  allowed to start operating indoors, restrictions on the operation of restaurants, shops, shopping centers, and markets on the weekend should be lifted as well, ”he notes.

Burjanadze believes the sooner the economy opens, the sooner the business will get back on its feet.

“The curfew must be lifted, and the sooner the better,” he explains.

In Burjanadze’s words, if the government takes adequate decisions, there will be no need for a meeting with the Prime Minister.