The FINANCIAL — Georgia seems quite interesting country for doing busienss as more than 10 billiners are operating their business in this country.
The FINANCIAL — Georgia seems quite interesting country for doing busienss as more than 10 billiners are operating their business in this country. In total 58 951 active business subjects are registered in the country, but only few of them matters.
George Soros is the richest man in the world who is operating its business in Georgia. He is the 22nd in the Forbes world Billionairs list and 12nd – in the USA. Soros owns USD 19 billions by September 2012. His net worth reached its maximum USD 22 billion in September 2011. He has graduated from London School of Economics and has Bachelor of Arts / Science. 82 years old global financier and philanthropist has earned money from his hedge funds. George Soros retired in 2011 and turned his hedge fund into a family office, returning just under $1 billion in assets to outside investors. Open Society – Georgia Foundation is a part of his chain Open Spciety, which is operating in 70 countries. As said, Soros tried to be involved in business in Georgia as well. He bought 25 percent of TBC bank shares in 2000ies but sold them very soon. Soros was blamed to support Rose Revolution financially in 2003.
Another global billionaire Michele Ferrero, who has earned its wealth from chocolate business, holds the 23rd place in the Forbes Billionares. He owns USD 19 billions. On the other hand, he is the first billionare in Italy. His brands include Nutella, Tic Tacs, Kinder chocolate eggs and Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates. The company operates 18 factories with more than 21,000 employees worldwide. Agrigeorgia is 100 percent owned by Ferrero Trading Lux (Luxembourg), a company with headquarters in Luxembourg and part of Ferrero Group worldwide. Agrigeorgia is continuing to invest and develop the hazelnut plantations in Georgia. As a result Ferrero plans to invest up to USD 20 million in Georgia.
Badri Patarkatsishvili seemed to be the 3rd reachest man in Georgia with an estimated wealth of $ 12 billion. After his death in 2008 businessman’s estate was being fought over by Boris Berezovsky, Patarkatsishvili's former business partner; Olga Safonova, who claims to have married Patarkatsishvili in 1997; and Inna Gudavadze, Patarkatsishvili's widow. he was mainly operating in Russia, but Patarkatsishvili owned business in Georgia as well including TV Imedi, circus, football team Dinamo, Bombora Park etc.
Savitri Jindal is the richest businesswoman who operates business in Georgia. With USD 8, 2 billion she is the 80th in the Forbes billionaires and 7th in India. Savitri Jindal's OP Jindal Group, steel and power conglomerate was founded by her late husband, which she chairs. The family's fortune fell USD 1, 3 billion over the past year and is down USD 6, 2 billion in two years. JINDAL PETROLEUM LTD won state tender in 2009 for 4 Oil exploration blocks in Georgia and in 2010 signed a contract with ENSEARCH PETROLEUM (GEORGIA) LTD. As a bonus of the contract the state budget got additional USD 17, 4 million investments from the investor. As for the further investments, the company plans flow of USD 150 million in the regions of Georgia: Kakheti, Shida Kartli, Guria, Adjara and Samtskhe-Javakheti.
Nowadays Bidzina Ivanishvili is the only Georgian billionare who has business in this country. He has USD 6, 4 billion. Began building his empire in 1990 when, with partner Vitaly Malkin, he set up Rossiysky Kredit Bank. Over the years, sold businesses he accumulated during Russia's privatization era including ore mining and metals interests; invested proceeds in Russian stock market. Also he has interests in elite real estate project in Moscow and two 5-star hotels. Owns Russian drugstore chain Doctor Stoletov. In Georgia Ivanishvili has Cartu Group, food products company Tolia, Skiing complex Bakuriani 2, building company Atu, wine companies. By the end of 2011 he has bought 8 percent of ProgresBank for GEL 1, 3 million. Currently he is the Premier Minister of Georgia and leader of county’s main political party Georgian Dream.
Mehmet Emin Karamehmet is the chairman of Turkey's Çukurova Holding conglomerate. He is currently ranked 2nd wealthiest person in Turkey and 401st globally in 2012 Forbes Billionaires list with USD 2, 9 billion. He is one of the most influential and successful businessman in Turkey with a record of several returns after failures. He is a founder of Turkcell which owns Geocell in Georgia. Nowadays Geocell is the leading telecommunication company in the Georgian market. He also owns Azercell, Kcell and Moldcell.
Donald Tramp is 401st in the Forbes Billionares with USD 3, 1 billion. Source of his wealth is real estate and television. He continues to collect prime real estate like the recently purchased Miami's Doral golf and spa resort and Washington, D.C.'s Old Post Office building, which he's redeveloping as a luxury hotel. He has sold his name very successfully in Georgia. The businessman is not investing in thic country himself but his patener company Silk Road Group will find resources to build Trump Tower in Tbilisi and Trump Riviera in Batumi. Building is planned to start this year.
With partner billionaire Henadiy Boholyubov, Ihor Kolomoyskyy controls Privat group, a banking and industrial conglomerate. They began with Privatbank, which was founded with $1 million of capital in early 1990s. Now Kolomoyskyy owns USD 3 billion and is 377th in Forbes list. As for Henadiy Boholyubov, he is 418th with USD 2, 8 billion. Private Bank in Georgia is daughter company of Privat Group since 2007.
Dinu Patriciu, 854th in Forbes list with USD 1, 5 billion, is involved in banking business in Georgia as well. He has been investing cash from the 2008 sale of his oil company, Rompetrol, to Kazakhstan's state-owned energy operator, Kazmunaigaz, in real estate, retail and oil and gas exploration. Patriciu is committed to his energy project, reportedly planning to spend up to $1 billion to look for Black Sea oil and gas. Apart from oil business, he is controlling Liberty Bank in Georgia. Patriciu has founded this bank in partnership with former PM Lado Gurgenidze.
Kamil Yazici with USD 1, 8 billion and Tuncay Ozilhan with 1, 4 billion has beer business in Georgia. They laid the foundation for the Anadolu Group, one of Turkey's largest industrial groups, in the 1950's. The group owns beverage company Anadolu Efes, which has bought brewery Natakhtari in 2008 and is operating with the name Efe Georgia in ths market. Natakhtari is the leading beer in Georgia.
In Georgia Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan, owner of Dhabi Group in Georgia has three large investments: KSB, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels hotel at Rustaveli avenue and Varid Telecom.
Arab Sheikh Saud bin Saqr Al Qassimi, the owner of the Rakeen Development company, which bought Sheraton Metechi Palace, operates largest mall in South Caucasus, located in Tbilisi. Rakeen was planing to invest 1.5b USD total in Georgia.
As said, Ivanishvili is the only Georgian billionaire who has business in his country.
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