Former Finance Minister given a chance to revive the Georgian economy

Former Finance Minister Leszek Balcerowicz has started his duties as economic adviser to Georgian President Eduard Shevardnadze, government sources in Tbilisi said. Balcerowicz told reporters in Tbilisi Friday that he had already met Shevardnadze and had been presented with the country's economic proposals. Balcerowicz leads a team of Polish experts on a USAID funded program to advise Georgia on how to modernize its economy. Georgia has recently received money from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The county's major problems are a result of a high budget deficit that has been difficult to reduce in a country where tax evasion and corruption are rampant. Transparency International ranks Georgia among the 20 most corrupt countries. (Prawo i Gospodarka, Aug. 12-13, page 6)