Cargo turnover in Georgian ports has increased

A new counter-cyclical buffer has been launched for the sector since March.According to the NBG, banks, including microbanks, are required to have an excess reserve of 0.25%. A digital bank (Paysera, Pave Bank) is exempt from these and other capital regulations.With the newly implemented buffer, the system will not lack more than $125 million in resources.The 0.25% is the first phase of the 1% capital requirement distributed over 4 years and will be effective until March 15, 2025.Then it will be doubled and the 0.5% rate will apply until 2026. It will equal 1% on March 15, 2027. TOP 6 Banks with Supervisory Capital.

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In the same period, the volume of loans issued in national currency increased by 562.23 million GEL (or 1.93%), while the volume of loans issued in foreign currency increased by 974.63 million GEL (or 4.22%) (without the exchange rate effect, it increased by 2.99%).By the end of March 2024, commercial banks issued loans in the amount of 8.84 billion GEL in national currency (2.27% more compared to the previous month) for resident legal entities and 15.21 billion GEL in foreign currency (5.19% more compared to the previous month) (3.95% more without the exchange rate effect).In March 2024, retail lending to residents increased by 2.00%, or 548 million GEL, to 28 billion GEL.Larization ratio of total loans was 55.2% for Q1/2024, it decreased by 0.55 percentage points compared to the end of the previous month.

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In March, term-deposits increased by 706.91 million GEL (+3.35%m.m), demand-deposits by 607 million GEL (+2.07%m.m).Larization ratio of deposit by 0.17 percentage points to 50.33% in March.In March, the average weighted annual interest rate of term deposits was 7.25%, including 9.56% for national currency deposits and 1.97% - for foreign currency deposits.The share of the USD in foreign currency deposits was 78.67%, and the share of the EUR was 19.60%.

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Compared to the 2020 average, the index change amounted to 41.3 percent.The RPPI covers the market of new residential property in Tbilisi, both flats and detached houses segments.The following table shows percentage changes of the RPPI compared to the previous quarter, the corresponding quarter of the previous year and to 2020 average.In the first quarter of 2024 a price increase compared to the previous quarter was registered both in flats (1.2 percent) and detached houses (0.7 percent) segments.Compared to the first quarter of 2023, the prices increased in both segments, for flats by 12.9 percent and for detached houses by 13.3 percent.The following graph represents the dynamics of the total RPPI and its sub-indices, as well as the Consumer Price Index

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According to the rule approved by the NBG President's order (No. 16/04), each fact is sanctioned with 2,000 GEL. Also, a fine of 2,000 GEL is imposed on the business entity, for the financial monitoring service, for hiding information on the transaction. The supervisor revealed 5 cases, i.e. 10,000 GEL, which was added to 6,000 GEL.MFO was fined with 4,000 GEL in the case of two high-risk clients. Also, 20,000 GEL for a faulty software (electronic) system, the purpose of which is to detect suspicious clients, persons related to them and transactions.

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"Silk Bank" ended Q1 with a loss of 1.3 million GEL.The management explains the negative trend of recent years with the withdrawal of BTA Bank (Kazakhstan) from the shareholders' structure. The bank has been making losses for several years, and if it continues like this, it will be forced to raise more resources to meet regulatory capital requirements. This is mentioned in the emission prospectus.The bank will direct the resources raised by the issue of 10 million to secondary capital. Before that, the shareholders increased the authorized capital by 9.8 million GEL by issuing 98,000 shares.As of Q1/2024, Silk Bank's deposit portfolio is up to 114 million GEL. From this, foreign currency deposits are equivalent to 91 million GEL.

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Panex specializes in manufacturing wall and roof sandwich panels, accessories, and refrigerator doors. Polyurethane sandwich panels are a cutting-edge construction material suitable for various commercial and public buildings. They are known for their exceptional thermal insulation properties, ease of installation, and long-term durability.The partnership between Basisbank and Panex has been instrumental in Panex's success. Basisbank's support enabled Panex to acquire the latest Italian equipment, enhancing the quality of its sandwich panels and ensuring compliance with European standards."We have seen significant growth in the number of infrastructure projects in the region over the past year. With a 70% increase in our sandwich panel production, we are confident in our ability to achieve our ambitious goals. Basisbank has been a constant supporter of our development and progress, and we look forward to continuing our successful partnership to further expand our business. Our aim is to establish a strong presence in the local market with high-quality products, ensure consistent supply to meet local demand, reduce reliance on imports, and ultimately increase our export capabilities." - Giorgi Levidze, CEO of Panex."Basisbank stands as a committed supporter of businesses, consistently championing local production and bolstering Georgian business and economic development. With Basisbank's financial backing and our fruitful partnership with Panex, we are confident that the business will seize even greater opportunities for expansion. Together with Panex, we take pride in our role as co-architects of yet another successful Georgian business." – Gigi Gabunia, Commercial Director of Basisbank.Video story of partnership between Basisbank and Panex:

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Speaking at the economic forum Challenges of the Georgian Economy: Geopolitical Role, Investments and Economic Growth, Davitashvili highlighted forecasts and trends, sectoral priorities and challenges, large infrastructure projects, structural reforms and cooperation between the state and the business.“The forecast of the International Monetary Fund shows Georgia will be one of the fastest-growing economies - in fact, the fastest-growing economy among the countries of Europe and the wider region, with economic growth above five percent until 2029”, he said.He also said the growth rate was expected to be above 5.7 percent this year and stressed the country could achieve “even higher” numbers.The Minister also reviewed the current investment sector, saying transport, logistics, service and tourism sectors had recorded “high investment activity” last year. He also emphasised the “high economic activity” had led to a “record-high” employment and a “record low” in unemployment last year.“In the future, we will focus on productivity growth and the technological transformation of the country. The Ministry is actively working on the policy that will allow the country to achieve this goal”, he said.Davitashvili also highlighted the importance of the Middle Corridor - a logistics route connecting Central Asia and China to Europe via the South Caucasus - for Georgia’s economy. He mentioned large infrastructure projects that he said would increase the Corridor's capacity and its economic efficiency.The official noted the volume of cargo transported through the Middle Corridor had doubled in 2022 and again risen by about 86 percent in 2023. He also mentioned the roadmap for the period until 2027 which outlines each participating country’s tasks for improving road infrastructure, management and coordination along the route.Davitashvili emphasised the plans would reduce prices and shipping times and increase safety. He also mentioned Georgia's natural location could allow it to play a “vital role not just as an ordinary link in the chain but as one of the leading ones, including at the political level”. 

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