Kakha Bendukidze | |
|---|---|
კახა ბენდუქიძე | |
 Bendukidze in 2012 | |
| Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development | |
| In office 1 June 2004 – 14 December 2004 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Succeeded by | Lekso Aleksishvili |
| Ministry of Economical Reforms Coordination | |
| In office 14 December 2004 – 24 January 2008 | |
| President | Mikheil Saakashvili |
| Head of Chancellery of the Government of Georgia | |
| In office January 2008 – February 2009 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 20 April 1956 Tbilisi, Georgian SSR, USSR |
| Died | 13 November 2014 (aged 58) London, United Kingdom |
| Spouse | Natalia Zolotova |
| Children | Anastasia Goncharova |
| Website | http://kakhabendukidze.com/ |
Kakha Bendukidze (Georgian: კახა ბენდუქიძე; 20 April 1956 – 13 November 2014) was a Georgian statesman, businessman and philanthropist, founder of the Knowledge Foundation and head of the supervisory board of Agricultural and Free Universities.
A biologist by education, Bendukidze started his own business, Bioprocess, which manufactured biochemicals for scientific research in 1987. Soon he became known as one of Russia's leading libertarians. He led a working group on tax and currency within the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs and pressed for changes in tax policy, which ultimately included adoption of a flat 13 percent tax rate. In Russia, he was a strong opponent of government intervention in the economy, a view that put him at odds with President Vladimir Putin. Soon Bendukidze sold his stake and moved back to Georgia.[1]
After the Rose Revolution, shortly after returning from Russia, he was appointed as Minister of Economy by former President Mikheil Saakashvili and the late Prime Minister Zurab Jvania in 2004.[2] He served as Georgian Minister of Economy (June–December 2004), Minister for Reform Coordination (December 2004 – January 2008) and Head of the Chancellery of Government of Georgia (February 2008 – February 2009). Bendukidze oversaw liberal reforms that overhauled Georgia's post-Soviet economy. Consequently, he became regarded by many as the Man Who Remade Georgia.[3][4]
After the appointment of Bendukidze, Georgia experienced a yearly 9.3% economic growth in 2004–2007 and almost four times more foreign investments. The government managed to decrease the taxes fourfold, the number of licenses by 90% and to liberalize the labour market.[2]
He created a charity called the Knowledge Foundation, and he was the force behind the establishment of the Free University of Tbilisi and the Agricultural University of Georgia.[1]
Bendukidze took an active role in helping the new government of Ukraine during its confrontation with Russia in 2014.[1]
- ^ a b c Herszenhorn, David M. "Kakha Bendukidze Dies at 58; Pushed Post-Soviet Market Change". The New York Times. Retrieved 19 November 2014.
- ^ a b "Famous Reformist Kakha Bendukidze Dies at 58". tabula.ge. Tabula.
- ^ "The Man Who Remade Georgia". The New Yorker. 28 November 2014. Archived from the original on 28 March 2023.
- ^ "Godfather of Georgoa's Reforms Dies at 58". Washington Post. Archived from the original on 17 November 2014. Retrieved 19 November 2014.