Vice Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, Ekaterine Galdava, participated in the panel discussion titled "Building the Infrastructure of Regional Connectivity" during the Tbilisi Finance Summit 2026. 

The main topics of the discussion included the development of cross-border payments, the interoperability of financial infrastructure, and the strengthening of regional financial ties.

Panel participants, who possess significant international experience in developing cross-border payments and interconnecting payment infrastructures, shared their insights and perspectives on the opportunities and challenges of developing fast, secure, and efficient payments based on practices from various countries.

The conversation also touched upon the potential of using products and services based on both traditional payment technologies and stablecoins in international payments, alongside the associated regulatory challenges.

Ekaterine Galdava shared the vision and experience of the National Bank of Georgia as a regulator with the participants, highlighting the central bank's efforts in developing payment infrastructure, fostering innovation, and managing relevant risks.

"For the development of cross-border payments, it is important not only to introduce modern technologies but also to ensure the interoperability of payment infrastructures, the establishment of common standards, and cooperation among regulators. The National Bank of Georgia is actively working on both modernizing the current payment infrastructure and implementing new systems and services. Furthermore, we are open to innovative technologies; we study their capabilities and challenges, and we strive to create a regulatory environment that fosters innovation while ensuring the effective management of associated risks," stated Ekaterine Galdava.

Joining Ekaterine Galdava in the panel discussion were Cem Soydemir, Head of Payments Market Development for MENA, TCIS & India at Swift; Dr. Kishan Srinivas, Head of Business for Europe, GCC & Central Asia at the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI); and Liu Heng, Vice President at UnionPay International. The discussion was moderated by Zdeněk Tůma, Former Governor of the Czech National Bank. 

The Tbilisi Finance Summit was co-organized by the National Bank of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN). It serves as a major international platform for dialogue on financial technologies, innovations, and regional cooperation.