It has become a good tradition to hold a national scientific conference dedicated to the Economist’s Day. This year 's conference had a double workload, as it was also dedicated to the memory of TSU Professor Nodar Khaduri. That is why Faculty of Economics and Business, Ivane Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, hosted the III National Scientific Conference on       September 11 of the current year on the topic: "Economics: Contemporary Challenges of Economic Science and Economic Policy."

The conference was organized by the Commission of Economic Sciences of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, TSU Faculty of Economics and Business, TSU Paata Gugushvili Institute of Economics, European University Faculty of Business and Technology, Institute for Research on Economic and Social Problems of Globalization, Journal "Globalization and Business". The organizational and scientific head of the conference was TSU Professor, Academician Vladimer Papava.

The conference was preceded by a competition of doctoral students’ scientific works for the award of Professor Nodar Khaduri. The work entitled "Macroeconomics at the time of Pandemic: Consumer Behavior and Optimal Restraint Policies" was selected by a competent jury with full confidentiality.

Honorary guests, as well as family members and close relatives of Professor Nodar Khaduri were invited to the III National Scientific Conference.

The opening ceremony of the conference was chaired by Professor Giorgi Gaganidze, Dean of the Faculty of Economics and Business of TSU. The guests and participants of the conference were welcomed and wished success in their work by the Chairman of the Parliament of Georgia Archil Talakvadze, the Rector of TSU Dr. Giorgi Sharvashidze, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, Dr. Natia Turnava, the Vice President of the Georgian National Academy of Sciences, Academician Roin Metreveli,  the Chairman of the Georgian Competition Agency Dr. Irakli Lekvinadze.

The scientific part of the plenary session of the conference was chaired by Academician Vladimer Papava, who also made a presentation: "On the Reflection of the Coronomics in Economic Science and Economic Policy."  Professor Elguja Mekvabishvili, in his report presented at the plenary session, "The Role of the State in Overcoming Economic Crises and Post-Crisis Economic Development" (Experience of Global Financial Crisis and Coronary Crisis)“ comprehensively reviewed and generalized the experience of the global financial crisis and the coronary crisis. Professor Eter Kharaishvili presented the report "Modern Challenges of Measuring Competitiveness in the Agri-Food Sector". Theoretical and methodological problems of the concept of economic policy were discussed by Professor Revaz Gvelesiani in his report. The joint report prepared by Professor Yuri Ananiashvili and TSU Master student Levan Gaprindashvili was focused on the prediction of the spread of coronavirus in Georgia on the basis of modeling and the effectiveness of government preventive measures.

In his report, Professor Simon Gelashvili presented the basic principles of coronostatistics, which, in his opinion, is necessary for the quantitative and qualitative analysis of the coronavirus in Georgia. Professor David Narmania's report was devoted to the aspects of the functioning of the energy sector under the coronavirus, such as: energy consumption, prices and consumers solvency. The topic of Professor Teimuraz Shengelia's report was "World Geography of Coronavirus and Prospects of the Georgian Economy".

Speakers at the conference paid tribute to the memory of Professor Nodar Khaduri with warm words and expressed their deep sorrow over his untimely death.

At the end of the plenary session, the organizational and scientific head of the conference, Academician Vladimer Papava handed over a symbolic prize to the winner of the Nodar Khaduri Scientific Competition to doctoral student Tsotne Marghia (supervisor: Prof. I. Ananiashvili). Mr. Marghia thanked the conference organizers, the jury for doctoral students’ works, and presented a report to the audience “on Macroeconomics during Pandemic: Consumer Behavior and Optimal Retention Policies.”

The second half of the III National Scientific Conference was devoted to working in sections.

At the first section - "The New Global Order Created by Coronomics, Prospects for Post-Crisis Economic Development and the Main Challenges of Economic Policy" (Supervisors: Professors Elguja Mekvabishvili and Revaz Gvelesiani) reports were made by Professor Vakhtang Charaia, Assoc. Professor Mikheil Chikviladze, Professor Ioseb Archvadze and TSU doctoral student Giorgi Benashvili.

At the second section - "The Main Problems of Macroeconomic Regulation, Socio-Demographic Challenges and Econometric Models" (supervisors: Professors Yuri Ananiashvili and Mirian Tukhashvili) - reports were presented by Associate Professors Malkhaz Chikobava, Nazira Kakulia, Givi Bedianashvili, Emzar Jgerenaia, Murman Tsartsidze, Nino Mikiashvili, Doctoral students Maka Ghaniashvili, Nika Asanidze and Mirian Tediashvili.

At the third section - "Microeconomic Environment and the Main Tools for Its Improvement" (supervisors: Professors Eter Kharaishvili and Simon Gelashvili) - the speakers were Assoc. Professors - Givi Bedianashvili, Ia Natsvlishvili, Merab Julakidze, Gulnaz Erkomaishvili and Doctor of Economics Kuji Bichia.

At the fourth section - "Economics and Business Challenges in Georgia" (Supervisors: Professors Teimuraz Beridze and Teimuraz Shengelia) - the reports were made by Assistant Professor Lela Jamagidze "Global Trade Flows during Pandemic", and TSU doctoral students Gvantsa Sisoshvili, Elene Tskhomelidze and Mariam Khurtsidze.

The heads of the sections - Professors Elguja Mekvabishvili, Yuri Ananishvili, Simon Gelashvili and Teimuraz Beridze informed the participants attending the plenary session about the results of the work in the sections.

The high scientific level of the conference was noted by the participants.

The results of the National Scientific Conference were summarized by Academician Vladimer Papava.

It is noteworthy that the tradition of holding a national scientific conference dedicated to the Economist’s Day has a history of only three years. The first conference was held at the EuropeanUniversity, the second - at BatumiShotaRustaveliStateUniversity. Against this background, Mr. L. Papava also informed the public about the time and place of the forthcoming IV National Scientific Conference - GoriStateUniversity, September 11, 2021.

The editorial board of the journal "Economics and Business" wishes success to all participants and organizers of the National Scientific Conference dedicated to the Economist’s Day. We hope that the conference scope will expand and this important tradition will continue for a long time.

Mari Ukleba

Chief Specialist

TSU Faculty of Economics and Business