NBG Governor addresses Swift Payments Forum in Tbilisi

Supported by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), the Swift Payments Forum – Caucasus and Türkiye was convened in Tbilisi. According to the National Bank of Georgia, the high-level gathering focused on advancing payment systems across the region, enhancing cross-border transactions, and bolstering financial interoperability.

Titled “Shaping the Future of Payments in the Caucasus and Türkiye”, the event brought together policymakers, central bank leadership, financial sector executives, and key representatives from the global payments industry.

Throughout the forum, delegates addressed pressing challenges confronting the global financial architecture, the modernisation of payment infrastructures, and emerging opportunities to deepen regional technical collaboration.

Addressing the assembly, National Bank of Georgia Governor Natia Turnava underscored the critical need for regional cooperation amid rising global economic fragmentation, highlighting that seamless financial connectivity is vital for economic resilience.

She stressed that central banks have a pivotal role in modernising financial infrastructure and deepening interoperability with regional and international partners.

“For Georgia, situated along the Middle Corridor, deepening regional cooperation is of paramount strategic import. As trade volumes along this trade route expand, commercial entities require robust financial services capable of executing cross-border transactions both efficiently and reliably,” the NBG Governor observed.

Natia Turnava further outlined major infrastructure upgrades recently executed across Georgia’s domestic payment architecture. She confirmed that in 2026, the National Bank of Georgia completed a comprehensive modernisation of its Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and clearing systems.

The upgraded infrastructure fully conforms to the ISO 20022 messaging standard, facilitating faster, more secure, and reliable payments while improving data quality and international compatibility.

“This upgrade paves the way for innovative digital services and the deployment of an Instant Payment System (IPS), scheduled for full launch by late 2026. Our objective is to forge a secure, efficient, and forward-looking payment infrastructure that not only drives domestic economic growth, but also fosters deeper regional financial integration,” Natia Turnava declared.

The forum also featured NBG Vice-Governor Ekaterine Galdava, who outlined the central bank’s short-, medium-, and long-term strategic priorities for payment system development.

According to NBG, Alexander Ergeshidze, Head of the NBG’s Specialised Risks Department, delivered key technical insights at the panel discussion “Securing the Future of Payments: Building Sustainable and Interoperable Systems”. Additionally, Varlam Ebanoidze, Head of the NBG’s Financial and Supervisory Technologies Department, contributed to the panel “Infrastructure of the Future – 24/7 Real-Time Digital Payments”, which explored the role of emerging technologies, digital assets, blockchain, and modern payment ecosystem interoperability in shaping future financial networks.