ADB President Praises Georgia’s Reforms and Macroeconomic Management

During the meeting, the parties discussed priorities for the bilateral partnership, including economic development and improving the quality of life for the population. Masato Kanda congratulated the Prime Minister on the country’s “strong macroeconomic parameters” and the completion of the Rikoti Pass highway.“This is an amazing project that supports regional connectivity,” the ADB President said, speaking about the Rikoti section.A key topic of the discussions was the Bank’s participation in the development of the “Middle Corridor.” The parties also addressed airport modernization and support for the tourism sector.Kanda emphasized that ADB is ready to assist Georgia in achieving its strategic ambitions related to the growth of the country’s transit and logistics potential in the Eurasian region, through innovative projects and financial instruments.

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The publication, which is based on official data from the Revenue Service, indicates that the number of employed people decreased by 11.7% compared to December 2025, which is likely explained by seasonal factors. Nevertheless, compared to January 2025, the indicator improved by 2.8%.“In January 2026, the number of persons receiving a monthly salary stood at 904,967, which was 11.7% lower than in December 2025, and 2.8% higher than in January 2025.In January 2026, the share of persons receiving a monthly salary of up to 600 GEL amounted to 17.8%, which was 8.3 percentage points higher than in December 2025, and 1.8 percentage points lower than in January 2025.In January 2026, the share of persons receiving a monthly salary of 2,400 GEL or more amounted to 30.5%, which was 20.3 percentage points lower than in December 2025, and 4.0 percentage points higher than in January 2025.In January 2026, the share of persons receiving a monthly salary of 9,600 GEL or more amounted to 2.6%, which was 3.2 percentage points lower than in December 2025, and 0.3 percentage points higher than in January 2025”, - the document reads.

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As of the document, the increase was observed in the production value of the business sector as well. In the IV quarterof 2025, production value equaled 27.2 billion GEL, which is 15.5 percent more year-on-year.In the IV quarter of 2025, large businesses generated 67.4 percent of total turnover, while medium size businesses generated 14.7 percent, and 17.9 percent was generated by small businesses.A distribution was different in case of total production value: 43.6 percent — large businesses, 24.9 percent — medium, and 31.5 percent — small businesses.In the IV quarter of 2025, total purchases of goods and services carried out by enterprises equaled 35.6 billion GEL (year-on-year 7.2 percent more), while the purchase of goods and services for resale amounted to 20.2 billion GEL (year-on-year 7.0 percent more).In the IV quarter of 2025, the average number of persons employed in business sector equaled 839.2 thousand, which is year-on-year 3.4 percent more. Out of the total number of persons employed, 43.3 percent were female and 56.7 percent were male.Large businesses employed 41.4 percent of total number of persons, while 19.4 percent were employed by medium, and 39.2 percent — by small businesses.The total number of employees amounted to 782.8 thousand (year-on-year 2.4 percent more) and the total personnel costs of enterprises equaled 6 260.3 million GEL (year-on-year 13.1 percent more).In the IV quarter of 2025, average monthly remuneration of employees equaled 2 608.4 GEL (241.3 GEL increase year-on-year), while remuneration specifically for women employees was 1 998 GEL (150.7 GEL increase year-on-year). Average monthly remuneration by size of enterprises was as follows: Large business — 2 743.7 GEL Medium size business — 3 084.9 GEL Small business — 2 152.2 GEL n the IV quarter of 2025, the arts, entertainment and recreation had the highest share (35.9%) in the total turnover in business sector, followed by trade sector (including repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles) with 32.9 percent share, manufacturing – with 7.3 percent, construction – with 6.4 percent, transportation and storage – with 4.5 percent, information and communication – with 3.3 percent, and other sectors – with 9.7 percent share.In the IV quarter of 2025, manufacturing (18.6 percent), trade (18.5 percent), construction (18.5 percent), transportation and storage (9.3 percent) and information and communication (8.4 percent) held the top five places in business sector by production value. The rest of the sectors had 26.6 percent share combined.In the IV quarter of 2025, trade (wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles), manufacturing, and human health and social work activities led business sector by number of employed persons with 29.0 percent, 11.1 percent, and 8.9 percent shares, respectively. Enterprises engaged in construction activities (8.4 percent), transportation and storage (8.4 percent), information and communication (6.5 percent), and accommodation and food service activities (5.5 percent) also had a significant share though.

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According to the official statement, such actions “grossly violate international law” and risk escalating tensions in the region.“In light of the strong friendship and strategic partnership between Georgia and the Republic of Azerbaijan, Georgia expresses solidarity with our brotherly nation in this difficult situation,” the ministry said.Following the incident, Georgian Foreign Minister Maka Bochorishvili spoke by phone with her Azerbaijani counterpart to discuss the situation.Azerbaijani media reported that Iranian-made drones struck the Nakhchivan airport area, injuring four people. In response, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador, Mojtaba Dermichilu, for explanations.

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The company imports major brands such as Roshen and Danone to Georgia.According to Burduli, the price difference compared to European countries is directly linked to producers’ policies. Large manufacturers view Georgia as a small buyer, resulting in higher purchase prices.“In many cases, major manufacturers consider our market expensive, small in scale, so purchase prices are higher than in other countries,” Burduli noted, citing Turkey as an example, where similar products are significantly cheaper.He added that prices imported by their company increased by no more than 2% on average in 2025, mainly due to changes in purchase costs.Burduli emphasized that distributors cannot arbitrarily raise prices, as international brands strictly control operating costs and profit margins. In most cases, distributors’ profit margins do not exceed 3%, and at most 5%.On March 5, the fifth session of the Commission for the Study of the Pricing Structure of Food Products, Medicines, and Fuel was held in the Georgian Parliament. The commission, which has already met with local producers and small importers, aims to complete its study of the market structure and value chain by the end of April.

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In the FTSE 100, Bank of Georgia joins global giants such as HSBC, BP, Unilever, Rolls-Royce, Shell, Barclays, and others.Lion Finance Group will officially join the index on March 20, 2026, after the stock exchange closes, with the change taking effect on March 23, 2026.“Lion Finance Group’s inclusion in the FTSE 100 is recognition of the value created by our group. This achievement highlights the strength of our strategy, innovative technology, and customer-centric approach in Georgia and Armenia. I believe this recognition will further boost international interest and attract new investments. This milestone is the result of the professionalism and joint effort of every member of our team,” said Archil Gachechiladze, CEO of Lion Finance Group.For context, Lion Finance Group is a banking group listed on the London Stock Exchange that unites leading, customer-focused, digitally accessible universal banks, including Bank of Georgia and Ameriabank.The group was first listed on the London Stock Exchange in 2006 and joined the FTSE 250 index in 2012.

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Statistics show that as recently as January 2026, the sector’s annual growth rate was 25.5%, but the rate stabilized sharply in February.Price Regulation and the DRG SystemThe slowdown affects only services outside state funding. Under the diagnosis-related group (DRG) model used in the universal healthcare program, clinics cannot arbitrarily raise prices, meaning most price changes occurred in the unreformed segment of the sector.Competition Agency MonitoringThe Competition and Consumer Protection Agency is monitoring the medical market, analyzing data from large inpatient clinics covering January 2022 to October 2025.The agency aims to determine:• Whether price increases of up to 100% were economically justified;• Whether increases were driven by higher costs or market factors;• Whether clinics artificially inflated prices.According to the agency’s representative, Giorgi Kedelidze, the study will highlight areas with the highest inflation. The date for publishing the initial results has not yet been announced.

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Speaking at a commission hearing on Chinese influence in Europe, Wilson warned that Tbilisi is becoming increasingly dependent on Beijing for both technological and financial support.“The dictatorship of Bidzina Ivanishvili and his Georgian Dream party has imprisoned almost all opposition leaders and ignored the Georgian people, who desire freedom rather than China’s ‘debt trap diplomacy’ or the Russian oligarchy,” Wilson said.He noted that while Russia had previously been Ivanishvili’s “source of wealth,” following the 2024 parliamentary elections, which Wilson described as “hijacked”, China has emerged as the primary provider of surveillance technology and propaganda tools for the ruling team.Wilson highlighted the Middle Corridor, the strategic transport route linking Central Asia to Europe, warning that Tbilisi’s policies threaten American interests in the region.“President Donald Trump rightly prioritized the Middle Corridor to diversify our supply chains. Yet the Georgian Dream has handed over this infrastructure to China. U.S. access is now effectively controlled by the Chinese Communist Party,” he said.The congressman added that Georgia has effectively fallen into “debt slavery,” a consequence of the political leverage accompanying Chinese investments.Ties between Washington and Tbilisi have significantly deteriorated since the 2024 elections and the passage of the Foreign Influence Transparency Act. U.S. officials have repeatedly voiced concerns about Georgia’s shifting foreign policy and its deepening strategic partnership with China, including the involvement of a Chinese consortium in the Anaklia deep-sea port project.

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