Georgia seeks to strengthen role as regional economic and financial hub - Georgian economy minister
Georgia aims to become not only a transit country but also a major regional hub for economic and financial connectivity, Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili said on Tuesday.
Speaking at the opening ceremony of the Tbilisi Financial Summit, Kvrivishvili said Georgia’s strategic location offered significant opportunities for the country to play a leading role in strengthening regional economic ties.
“For the second consecutive year, Georgia is hosting the Tbilisi Financial Summit, bringing together representatives of international financial institutions, central banks, technology companies and the private sector. This year’s main theme - developing regional economic corridors through the integration of policy, finance and technology - is particularly relevant for Georgia”, Kvrivishvili said.
“Our Government’s priorities in this regard are to enhance the competitiveness of the Middle Corridor, develop transport, logistics and energy infrastructure, and create a favourable environment for international trade and investment”, the Minister added.
Kvrivishvili also highlighted the importance of major strategic infrastructure projects, noting that the government was actively advancing plans for the construction of the Anaklia deep sea port and the development of a new international airport in Vaziani.
“Georgia’s geographical location is a significant advantage, but geography alone cannot guarantee success. The competitiveness of a modern economic corridor depends not only on how quickly cargo moves from one country to another, but also on how quickly and securely capital flows, payments are processed, and trade and investment ties develop among neighbouring countries and across the region”, she said.
The Tbilisi Financial Summit has brought together more than 800 participants from around 60 countries, including approximately 100 high-level speakers representing the public and private sectors.
This year’s summit focuses on strengthening regional financial and economic connectivity, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity in financial systems, and other key issues shaping the future of the global and regional economy.
Other News
Our goal is to build a more efficient and interoperable payments environment alongside financial innovation - Natia Turnava
28.10.2026.22:06
As part of the Tbilisi Finance Summit, Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), participated in a panel discussion titled “The Policy Dialogue: The Choices Defining 2027.” The discussion focused on safeguarding monetary and financial stability amid global shocks, the development of digital finance, and deeper regional financial integration.
Natia Turnava highlighted the NBG’s key priorities for 2027, including keeping inflation expectations anchored, strengthening international reserve buffers, and continuing the de-dollarization process. She noted that timely risk assessment, consistent policymaking, and strengthening the resilience of the financial system are particularly important for a small open economy.
The panel also addressed the modernization of Georgia’s payment infrastructure, the development of the fintech ecosystem, and the enhancement of the regulatory framework for digital finance. In addition to outlining reforms already implemented in these areas, Natia Turnava discussed future priorities, including the introduction of an instant payment system and enhanced interoperability with international payment systems.
The Governor of the National Bank of Georgia also emphasized the importance of regulatory cooperation among regional central banks. She noted that, amid growing trade and financial ties, facilitating cross-border payments, ensuring the timely exchange of information, and aligning supervisory frameworks would strengthen the region’s financial resilience and competitiveness.
“Resilience must be built before shocks materialize. For a small open economy like Georgia, credible policies and adequate buffers are particularly important. At the same time, our goal is to foster financial innovation while building a more efficient and interoperable payments environment. Through cooperation with our regional partners, we also seek to deepen economic and financial ties,” Natia Turnava stated.
The panel discussion brought together Natia Turnava and representatives of financial institutions from Albania, Armenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kazakhstan, and China.
The discussion was moderated by Sopnendu Mohanty, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN).
The Tbilisi Finance Summit is being held for the second time on 27–28 October, jointly organized by the National Bank of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and the Singapore-based Global Finance &