Economics

Port construction has been accelerated to the maximum

According to the head of government, there is great interest in the project both among Georgia's partners and neighboring countries, as well as in Central Asia, the Middle East and Europe.Kobakhidze noted that the pace of work has been accelerated to the maximum after the contract was revised, reducing its cost by about $50 million. He thanked the Ministry of Economy and the minister personally for this result. According to the Prime Minister, the smooth progress of the work gives grounds for optimism that the port will receive its first ships by 2029.The Prime Minister’s statement was preceded by information from the Ministry of Economy, according to which the first dredging vessel (Tristao Da Cunha) entered the Anaklia sea area on August 1 to carry out dredging works. According to the ministry, the vessel will begin work on the construction of the breakwater channel after completing the procedures established by law.According to the project, the seabed in the Anaklia sea area will be deepened to 17.5 meters, and a 1,380-meter-long breakwater will be built at a later stage. The construction works in the sea area of the future port are being carried out by the Belgian company, a member of the so-called “Big Four”, Jan De Nul N.V., together with Georgian partners. The Ministry of Economy announced the Belgian company’s victory in the tender on August 1, 2024.As announced in early July, the Georgian government is building the Anaklia deep-water port using the world-proven “landlord” model. This model will allow the state to develop the port not in partnership with one, but with several states and companies at once, which will create the best conditions for attracting cargo and its efficient operation. Along with the creation of port infrastructure, the government will also ensure the arrangement of road and rail access to the port.In addition, according to the state decision, the investor will have only a 49% share of the port, while the state will retain the controlling 51%. On May 29, 2024, the Georgian government announced that a Chinese-Singaporean consortium would acquire a 49% share of the Anaklia port.According to the original project, the first ship was to be received by the Anaklia port in 2020. That same year, the Georgian Dream government terminated the 2016 contract with the Anaklia Development Consortium (ADC). The consortium included TBC Holding Anaklia (Georgia), Van Oord PPP International (Netherlands), Wondernet Express (UK), G-Star LLC (Bulgaria), Conti International (USA), and Dutch investor Bob Meyer.At the time, the government cited non-fulfillment of obligations as the official reason, while the consortium itself pointed to state interference. The state won two international arbitration disputes in this case, after which it promised to continue the construction of the port with its own funds.

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Real estate sales in Tbilisi reach $2 billion - G&T

Notably, sales on the secondary market reached the highest monthly level after 2022. On the supply side, after 8 consecutive months of decline, the area of issued permits rebounded sharply and reached the highest monthly level after 2021. Primary market price continued to increase at a moderate pace, while secondary market price declined slightly, indicating stabilization after April’s sharp increase.

1785761239

Levan Karumidze appointed Head of newly established National Gastronom...

According to the Ministry of Agriculture, Karumidze brings extensive experience in executive management and foreign relations. Between 2020 and 2024, he served as Deputy Chairman and subsequently First Deputy Chairman of the Parliamentary European Integration Committee. He was also a member of the Foreign Relations Committee.“Levan Karumidze possesses long-standing experience in executive leadership within the public sector. He previously served as Deputy Head of the Department of the National Security Council of Georgia and worked within the Administration of the Government of Georgia managing international media relations. Furthermore, he held leadership positions across various public law entities under the Ministry of Education and Science.Levan Karumidze’s professional background will support the Agency’s effective operation, raise the global profile and international promotion of Georgian gastronomy, foster the development of gastronomic heritage, and strengthen co-operation with international partners, which, in turn, will bolster Georgia’s positioning as a nation with a distinguished culinary culture.It is worth noting that the Public Law Legal Entity National Gastronomy Agency under the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture was established pursuant to a Georgian Government decree dated July 20, 2026. The Agency’s goal is to protect, develop, promote, and elevate the international profile of the country’s gastronomic heritage, as well as to formulate and implement a unified state policy and strategy in the field of gastronomy,” the Ministry stated.

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Georgian economy grew by 8.6% in June

GeoStat reported that significant positive contributions to growth in June 2026, compared to the same period last year, were made by sectors including manufacturing, transportation and storage, construction, information and communication, and financial and insurance activities.Conversely, a declining trend was observed in the mining and quarrying and energy sectors.

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Blueberry exports from Georgia increased by 46% and exceeded $61.8 MLN

According to the ministry, compared to the same period last year, the volume of exported blueberries increased by 53% (by 3.3 thousand tons), and the value by 46% ($19.5 million).During the same period, the average export price of 1 kg of blueberries amounted to $6.4.According to the ministry, the main export market for Georgian blueberries is still Russia, where 91% of the exported crop - 8,736 tons of products - entered the market in May-July.498 tons of blueberries were exported to the European Union, while relatively small volumes were transported to Armenia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and other countries.

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The Number of Visits to Doctors Increased by 6%

According to the data of 2025, compared to the previous year, the number of registered diseases (for the first time with a diagnosis) has increased the most in the following groups: congenital malformations, deformations and chromosomal abnormalities (14.2 percent), neoplasms (12.7 percent), mental and behavioural disorders (10.6 percent), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue (8.9 percent), diseases of the eye and adnexa (6.8 percent).From main disease groups the most common in the population are diseases of the respiratory system, diseases of the eye and adnexa, diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue, diseases of the circulatory system and diseases of the urogenital system. In 2025, the number of new cases of AIDS amounted to 562 units, which is 53 units less than the corresponding indicator of 2024. The total (cumulative) number of people living with HIV/AIDS amounted to 11 568. There were 150 deaths from HIV/AIDS during the 2025 year.In 2025, compared to the previous year, the number of new tuberculosis cases was 7.3 percent less. Morbidity with tuberculosis decreased by 12.9 percent and amounted to 1 142.In 2025, emergency care was provided to approximately 1.15 million people, of which 99.0 percent of cases were related to sudden illness.

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96.5% of Operating Markets Are privately Owned, with More Than A Third...

GeoStat reported that the most prevalent legal form among entities operating markets and bazaars was the limited liability company (LLC), accounting for 72.7 per cent of all active markets and bazaars in 2025, while sole traders accounted for 23.8 per cent. The remaining markets and bazaars operated as joint-stock companies or cooperatives.According to the agency’s report, 96.5 per cent of active markets and bazaars in 2025 were privately owned, while the remaining 3.5 per cent were state-owned.Furthermore, markets and bazaars operating in Georgia in 2025 covered a total area of 2 million square metres. They possessed 60 veterinary-sanitary inspection laboratories, 1,061 storage warehouses spanning 22 thousand square metres, and 292 refrigeration units with a capacity of 0.7 thousand tonnes.Among the active bazaars in 2025, 35.9 per cent were covered (operating indoors), 34.3 per cent were open-air (operating outdoors), and 29.8 per cent were semi-covered (operating both indoors and outdoors).According to GeoStat, vendors trading on the premises of active markets and bazaars sold both food and non-food goods. In 30.8 per cent of markets and bazaars, trading was restricted exclusively to non-food items; two bazaars sold only food products; three bazaars traded in motor vehicles; and three markets sold exclusively poultry and livestock.Operations across Georgian markets and bazaars varied by day of the week, with 153 markets trading daily, 23 operating exclusively on Sundays, and three running six days a week (excluding Sundays). The rest of the markets and bazaars opened only on specific days, running on schedules ranging from one to four days a week.In addition, there were 46.5 thousand trading stalls and spaces across active markets and bazaars in 2025, with the average daily number of vendors reaching 36.1 thousand.According to agency figures, the average annual number of staff employed directly by market management entities in 2025 was 2.7 thousand, of whom 32.6 per cent were women. Employees in Tbilisi accounted for 48.1 per cent of this total.In 2025, the total revenues generated by market and bazaar operators reached 208.8 million lari. Of this amount, 9.6 million lari (4.6 per cent) was derived from trading permit fees (one-off daily charges), 180.7 million lari (86.5 per cent) from commercial space rentals, and 18.6 million lari (8.9 per cent) from other revenue streams. Over the same period, operating expenditures incurred by market and bazaar entities amounted to 128.6 million lari, of which 55.2 million lari was allocated to staff wages and remuneration.

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No commercial electricity exports or imports were carried out in June...

According to the investment bank, electricity exports to Turkey in June decreased by 7.9 times in volume and 12 times in value. The increase in generation in the Turkish market was due to good hydrology and intensive construction of solar power plants.“Exports to Turkey amounted to 24.0 GWh and $0.7 million, while the average export price was 2.8 US cents per kWh (-34.4% y/y). The only exporter was ESCO, whose goal was to repay old debt,” the study notes.Galt & Taggart explains that the average electricity price in Turkey in June was 2.9 US cents/kWh (-34.4% year-on-year, +61.1% month-on-month). Such a low price significantly reduced the economic attractiveness of exports, since exporters also had to pay the transmission tariff and guaranteed capacity fee (totaling 1.5 cents). As a result, Turkey refused to import electricity from Georgia commercially.July dynamics and restored exportsThe situation changed since July - against the background of an increase in prices on the Turkish market (with an average rate of 6 US cents/kWh for July 1-20), electricity exports from Georgia resumed on July 6.In July 2026, the list of exporting companies includes: "Adjara-Energy 2007" "Energy Development Georgia" "Svaneti Hydro" "Kasleti 2" "Aisi" LLC "Austrian Georgian Development" ESCO

1785241053

Lasha Abashidze: Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe flight to be launched soon

According to him, the modernization of the infrastructure in the passenger direction will be completed in the near future. The Tbilisi-Akhaltsikhe route will be launched soon, and five trains are also undergoing major repairs and modernization. According to Lasha Abashidze, in the near future all flights will be operated by modern trains.As for the freight direction, Georgian Railway has already announced an international tender for the purchase of 45 new mainline freight locomotives."We will have absolutely new, modern locomotives. This will significantly improve the direction of freight transportation, which will make the railway and freight transportation faster and more efficient. At the same time, the company will increase its income, which will finance new projects", - noted Lasha Abashidze.

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Georgian Railways' net profit amounted to GEL 112.3 million

According to the company, the growth was also due to the addition of new cargo flows - in the first half of the year, products appeared that were not or almost not transported in the same period last year.In parallel with the shipments, a significant increase was also recorded in the company's operational and financial results: Total revenue: GEL 352 million (+19% compared to the previous year) Adjusted EBITDA: GEL 92.2 million (+27%; in 6 months of 2025: GEL 72.4 million) Full EBITDA: GEL 137 million (+84%; in 6 months of 2025: GEL 74.3 million) Adjusted EBITDA margin: improved to 45% (from 25% in the previous year) Net profit: GEL 112.3 million (+74%; in 6 months of 2025: GEL 64.7 million) Meanwhile, according to Georgian Railways, the company's net profit in the first half reached GEL 112.3 million, which is a direct result of increased operational efficiency and expanded cargo turnover.

1785151935

Real estate sales in Tbilisi reach $2 billion - G&T

1785761239 • Economics

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Banking sector increases profit by 18%

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Electricity prices in Turkey have risen and are leaving Georgia

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Politics

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Kobakhidze issues order to dismiss Tinatin Rukhadze

By the decision of the head of government, First Deputy Minister of Culture Maka Gurgenidze also resigned. In addition, according to another order dated July 28, the Prime Minister appointed Mikheil Kiknadze as First Deputy Minister of Culture.Tinatin Rukhadze announced her resignation from the post of Minister of Culture yesterday, July 28. In an address published on her personal Facebook page, she cited her health as the reason for her decision and noted that the current situation does not allow her to devote due attention to her beloved work.

1785240958

"We firmly oppose censorship" - the US Embassy's response to the arres...

As the Embassy explained, they firmly oppose censorship and restrictive laws that are used to silence people with undesirable views.“The Trump administration has clearly stated that the United States considers freedom of speech a fundamental foundation of a functioning society, and we firmly oppose censorship and those restrictive laws that are used to silence people with undesirable views. As we have also shared with our Georgian partners, stability requires a political opposition that cooperates with state institutions on behalf of the citizens who voted for them. Political stability, ensured by a broad representation of views, is part of the factors that make Georgia a reliable partner for American investments, security cooperation, and long-term strategic partnership.We are concerned about the Georgian government’s Directorate for Combating Hate Speech. The best response to lies and false views is more freedom of speech, not enforced silence,” - the US Embassy noted.

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Georgia, Turkmenistan Agree to Develop Middle Corridor, Expand Trade T...

During the visit, the parties signed a joint statement, as well as agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation in various fields.The Middle Corridor and Transport and Logistics PotentialThe meeting between the leaders focused on the importance of developing the Trans-Caspian international transport route - the Middle Corridor - and the need to attract additional cargo flows in this direction.According to the head of the Georgian government, Irakli Kobakhidze, Georgia is actively following the ongoing infrastructure and logistics projects in Turkmenistan, which have created a solid foundation for expanding regional ties.“Central Asia is a particularly interesting region for Georgia. In this context, we consider Turkmenistan as a reliable partner and friendly state. The relations established between our countries are based on many years of friendship and mutual respect,” Irakli Kobakhidze said.Increasing trade turnover and business forumTurkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov emphasized that Georgia is one of Turkmenistan’s main economic partners in the region and the country highly appreciates Tbilisi’s constructive position in the international arena.According to him, the Turkmenistan-Georgia business forum held within the framework of the visit showed that there is great potential for increasing bilateral trade volumes and expanding product exchanges: Political and diplomatic ties: The parties agreed to strengthen diplomatic efforts to ensure long-term partnership. International formats: Cooperation with global organizations is expanding, especially within the framework of the United Nations (UN). Diversification: The Turkmen side expresses its readiness to diversify economic ties with Georgian business. “We agreed to expand political relations, diplomatic efforts so that our ties can continue in the long term. We attach special importance to business relations and we want to diversify our economic ties,” Serdar Berdimuhamedov noted.Support for Sovereignty and Humanitarian PartnershipAt the briefing, the Georgian Prime Minister thanked the Turkmen authorities for their firm support for Georgia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders.In addition to economic and transit directions, the leaders discussed better utilization of the potential in the tourism sector, stimulation of bilateral tourist flows, deepening people-to-people ties, and cooperation in the fields of education and culture.For information, this is the second state visit of the President of Turkmenistan to Georgia. The first such visit took place in 2015, when former President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedow visited the country.

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Combating Antifa and Security Challenges - Bochorishvili Delivers Spee...

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in her speech, the Minister emphasized that, against the backdrop of modern security challenges, placing the issue of political terrorism on the international agenda is of particular importance.“This discussion is particularly timely, as today we are faced with complex and constantly changing challenges that directly affect our national interests, sovereignty, and security,” said Maka Bochorishvili.The Vice Prime Minister drew attention to the risks posed by radical groups. According to him, these forces often act in the name of democracy, although their real goal is to weaken state institutions.According to the Minister, Georgia is a vivid example of these challenges, where in recent years there have been numerous attempts to polarize society and discredit state systems: Coordinated campaigns: targeted actions against constitutional bodies, including the judiciary and electoral systems. Violence and sabotage: attempts by radical groups to use violent acts as a political tool. In his speech, the Foreign Minister also spoke about the role of international organizations and the need to protect their reputation. According to Bochorishvili, the use of international mechanisms or resolutions for the purpose of external pressure damages both bilateral relations and the credibility of these institutions themselves.“The use of international institutions to legitimize such actions through resolutions and other mechanisms aimed at exerting political pressure on sovereign states is no less worrying,” the minister noted.At the end of her speech, Maka Bochorishvili noted that political terrorism often manifests itself in hidden and imperceptible forms (including intimidation and political violence), which is why the fight against it should be a common task for all democratic states.According to Reuters, the aforementioned ministerial is aimed at mobilizing global support from the US against “far-left political terrorism.” The White House believes that these movements have so far remained beyond the attention of law enforcement agencies.According to the agency, more than 60 countries were represented at the meeting organized by the US State Department - some of them at the level of foreign or interior ministers, and others at the level of relatively low-ranking officials.The Trump administration has made combating far-left groups, particularly Antifa, a top priority since the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk last year. The US State Department has said that attacks by far-left actors on police, businesses and infrastructure are an ideologically driven strategy aimed at destabilizing free societies. To this end, since November last year, Washington has officially designated several European far-left and anarchist groups as terrorist organizations (FTOs).

1784205546

Newly established association to protect meat producers' interests

During the meeting, the project’s legal consultant and mediator presented potential organizational and membership fee models, drawing on examples from other countries and local associations. By the end of the meeting, the participants agreed on the best model to ensure the sustainable development of the meat sector.The Georgian Meat Producers' Association aims to facilitate communication between farmers, consumers, state agencies, and international or local partners, while prioritizing the best interests of sector representatives and adhering to international standards. Ultimately, this will contribute to food safety, product traceability, and the sustainable development of the meat sector in the country. The Association actively cooperates with state and international organizations to help refine sector policies and legislation. Its priority is to increase access to financial instruments, investment projects, and various support programs for sector representatives."Meat suppliers represent different sub-sectors and are often competitors, yet they all share a common goal: supplying retail chains with safe products that meet consumer demands. The sector is quite fragmented, which is why our objective is to consolidate them around their shared interests. This will help them find common ground, develop action plans, and focus on addressing existing challenges. Furthermore, the presence of the Association will assist the government in identifying issues within the meat sector and responding to them efficiently. In establishing this Association, we drew upon leading European Union practices, which we believe will significantly support the organization’s future operations and development," said Mikheil Sokhadze, FAO Project Manager.The NAITS project is implemented by the FAO in cooperation with the National Food Agency, with financial support from the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) and the Austrian Development Agency (ADA), as part of International Partnerships Austria.