Georgia’s economy grows 7.6% in first eight months of 2026, PM at Tbilisi Financial Summit

Georgia’s economy grew by 7.6% in the first eight months of 2026, following average annual growth of 9.3% between 2021 and 2025, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said at the Tbilisi Financial Summit on Tuesday.

Kobakhidze attributed the growth in part to the expansion of higher-productivity sectors, including exports of information and communication technology services. He also highlighted the growing role of foreign direct investment, particularly in the financial sector.

Addressing the summit, which brought together around 800 participants from more than 50 countries, Kobakhidze said Georgia’s strategic location, infrastructure, macroeconomic stability and investment environment positioned it to become a regional hub for trade, logistics, finance and technological innovation.

He said the financial sector had become a leading recipient of foreign investment, helping strengthen competitiveness, introduce new technologies and develop Georgia’s potential as a regional financial centre.

The PM also highlighted “regulatory initiatives aimed at boosting competition and innovation in financial services.” These, he noted, include a framework for registering and supervising virtual asset service providers, rules governing the issuance of stable virtual assets, the introduction of open banking and a licensing framework for digital banks.

Kobakhidze further claimed more than 40 virtual asset service providers now operate in Georgia, while three digital banks have been established, one of them through a Singaporean initiative.

He also pointed to upgrades to payment systems and the development of regional cross-border payment projects, saying these initiatives would improve access to financial services and create more opportunities for financial technology companies.

Kobakhidze said strengthening regional cooperation and positioning Georgia as a financial and technology hub were government priorities. He added that the summit could help expand investment opportunities and trade ties among countries along the Middle Corridor.