Georgia has been ranked 13th worldwide and among the top 10 in Europe by low bribery incidence while being the world leader in freedom from bribery to obtain government contracts, the Georgian Government Administration reported on Monday.

The World Bank’s Enterprise Survey focuses on several aspects of the business environment that play a vital role in the growth and development of the private sector and the economy as a whole.

“The latest survey was carried out in Georgia from April 2023 through September 2023. Over this period, 592 company owners and senior managers were interviewed.

The survey’s questionnaire covers factors that are important to the business environment and economy. These are infrastructure, international trade, finances, regulations, taxes and business licensing, corruption, crime and informal economy, access to financing, innovations, workforce, and factors crippling the business environment.

According to data prior to 2013, Georgia’s indicators in bribe acceptance incidence made up 9.84%, being therefore 10 times less favourable than in 2023. The situation started improving drastically after 2013, when the bribe acceptance indicator dropped to 1.43%, while the best results are found in the 2023 survey, which shows an improvement in bribe acceptance incidence down to 1%,” the Government Administration states.