NBG and Visa host high-level briefing on global and regional economic trends

The National Bank of Georgia (NBG) and global payment network Visa co-hosted an economic review session bringing together public sector officials, private enterprise leaders, economists, and financial sector experts.

Participants at the roundtable examined global and regional macroeconomic developments, consumer spending patterns, and growth prospects across the Georgian market.

Addressing the forum, NBG Vice President Ekaterine Galdava highlighted the strategic value of the central bank’s long-standing partnership with Visa, noting that international payment networks play a pivotal role in strengthening the country’s financial architecture.

“International card schemes occupy a strong position in the Georgian market and play an essential part in the continuous development of our payment ecosystem,” Galdava said. “We deeply value our collaboration with Visa and the company’s sustained commitment to advancing Georgia’s financial sector.”

Galdava cited data-sharing as a core pillar of the bilateral partnership, noting that Visa provides the central bank with market analytics that enhance ongoing trend assessments and macroeconomic forecasting.

Diana Kiguradze, Visa’s Regional Manager for the Caucasus and Moldova, told attendees that Visa’s global network offers a unique lens for tracking shifting consumer behaviour, spending habits, and cross-border travel trends.

“The real value lies in data and the actionable insights derived from it,” Kiguradze remarked. “It enables us to map global macro trends onto the local market context and gain a clearer understanding of structural shifts underway in Georgia.”

Mohamed Bardastani, Principal Economist for Visa in Central and Eastern Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (CEMEA), delivered the keynote address, outlining the global economic outlook, consumer spending dynamics, and Georgia’s resilient position relative to regional peers.

“Georgia’s economic outlook must be evaluated within the broader framework of regional and global shifts,” Bardastani noted. “Rapid advancements in commerce and financial technology are reshaping consumer expectations, creating new market dynamics and commercial opportunities. Benchmarking Georgia against regional peers helps us gauge where the country stands today and identify the drivers that will shape its future trajectory.”

In a closing statement, the central bank’s press office reaffirmed its intent to deepen engagement with international institutions to drive market innovation, share technical expertise, and deliver consumer-focused initiatives across the financial sector.