“We pledge that the country’s economy will grow from GEL 90 billion to 130 billion within four years, and the national budget will increase from GEL 28 billion and exceed 40 billion – these are our commitments,” Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told journalists.

According to the Prime Minister’s assessment, the situation in 2012 was extremely dire, with the economy at only GEL 28 billion and the national budget at just GEL 8.5 billion.

“Pseudo-liberal propaganda is a severe global-scale problem, which Mr. Bidzina Ivanishvili emphasized. He also addressed economic and social issues. You know the situation we encountered in 2012 – it was extremely severe, with the economy at only GEL 28 billion and the national budget at just GEL 8.5 billion. We have already managed to grow the economy from GEL 28 billion to 90 billion and increased the national budget from GEL 8.5 billion to 28 billion. Regarding our pledge, we commit to further growing the country’s economy from GEL 90 billion to 130 billion in four years. The national budget will increase from GEL 28 billion, and exceed 40 billion. These are our commitments.”

“As for unemployment and poverty, the poverty rate today is 11.8%, which is half of what it was in 2012, though still high. We pledge that by 2028, unemployment will fall below 4%, which is better than the EU average. The same applies to poverty. The poverty rate, which was 30% in 2012, is now 11.8%, and in four years it will fall below 4%, meaning approximately 300,000 more of our citizens will overcome poverty. While 1,120,000 people lived below the poverty line in 2012 under the previous government, this figure has been radically reduced to 440,000. It will decrease to a maximum of 150,000 within four years. This is the current picture. These are our pledges, and our team’s position is clear,” stated the Prime Minister.