Georgian PM opens regional roundtable of central bank governors

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze opened a meeting of regional central bank governors, hosted by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and J.P. Morgan.

Addressing the attendees, the Prime Minister emphasised the importance of a high-level meeting of this scale. He outlined Georgia’s recent economic growth figures and discussed the positive development trends in the national financial sector.

“Geopolitical tensions, shifts in trade and investment flows, volatility in financial markets and rapid technological change are reshaping the global economic landscape. For countries like Georgia, with open economies and strong regional and international ties, these developments further underscore the importance of maintaining a healthy economy and the ability to adapt to an increasingly complex environment.

Against this backdrop, Georgia has demonstrated strong economic resilience over the past five years and maintained steady growth. From 2021 to 2025, real GDP grew by an average of 9.3% annually, placing Georgia among the fastest-growing economies in the region and globally. Strong momentum continued in 2026, with economic growth reaching 7.9% in the first seven months of the year.

Importantly, one of the main drivers behind this performance, alongside an improved external balance, has been the growth of high-productivity sectors such as financial services, transport, and information and communication.

Strong economic performance is underpinned by macroeconomic stability. Average inflation was maintained at 1.8% in 2023-2024. However, annual inflation reached 5.6% in August 2026, mainly due to external factors, specifically the increase in global oil prices resulting from the conflict in the Middle East.

Georgia has significantly replenished its international reserves. Since October 2024, Georgia’s performance in this regard has doubled, reaching an all-time high,” stated Irakli Kobakhidze.

The Head of Government of Georgia also spoke about the role of the financial sector in economic progress and the growing international recognition of Georgian financial institutions. Irakli Kobakhidze noted that the Government of Georgia continues to work on developing capital markets and creating an increasingly competitive environment for investment.

The NBG Governor also addressed the event. Natia Turnava stated that holding a meeting in this format would contribute to deepening regional dialogue and further developing cooperation among central banks.

“J.P. Morgan has already held meetings in this format on different continents, and we are pleased to be hosting the first such event in our region. I hope this will lay the foundation for a new tradition, with other countries in the region hosting roundtables in the future.

We are particularly pleased to welcome so many colleagues to Tbilisi, representing up to 15 central banks, development organisations and financial institutions. Meetings of this kind are valuable not only because they allow us to exchange views on pressing issues shaping the development of our economies, but also because they create opportunities for open dialogue, learning from one another and strengthening relations among our institutions.

In today’s turbulent global economic environment, we are proud that Georgia’s economy and financial sector have demonstrated remarkable resilience, stability and growth. Our international reserves have reached an all-time high. This has strengthened our ability to withstand external shocks and safeguard macroeconomic stability,” stated Natia Turnava.

The Georgian Government Administration noted that the roundtable drew central bank governors and deputy governors from nearly 15 nations, alongside representatives from J.P. Morgan, the World Bank, and the Asian Development Bank (ADB).