"PSP" replaces "Aversi" and "Gepha" in the top ten importers

According to the survey results, the main source of household income is cash incomes and transfers. In 2024, this share increased by 2.7 percentage points compared to the previous year, amounting to 90.4 percent. The figure was 94.9 percent in urban areas and 81.7 percent in rural areas.The average monthly income per household in urban areas increased by 12.6 percent, amounting to 1 978 GEL, while in rural areas it increased by 5.5 percent, equaling 1 755 GEL.In the structure of cash incomes and transfers, the largest share is held by incomes received from wages, which decreased by 0.3 percentage points compared to the previous year, reaching 47.6 percent. The share of self-employment income increased by 0.9 percentage points, amounting to 12.7 percent. The share of income from pensions, scholarships, and social assistance increased by 0.4 percentage points, reaching 22.3 percent. The structure of cash incomes and transfers differs between urban and rural settlements.In 2024, the average monthly expenditures per household in Georgia increased by 5.2 percent compared to the previous year, reaching 1 736 GEL, while the average monthly expenditures per capita increased by 8.2 percent, amounting to 540 GEL.According to the survey results, in 2024, the share of household cash consumption expenditure in total expenditures decreased by 0.4 percentage points compared to the previous year, amounting to 69.9 percent.The average monthly expenditures per household in urban areas increased by 6.3 percent, amounting to 1,813 GEL, while in rural areas it increased by 3.4 percent, equaling 1,603 GEL.In the structure of cash consumption expenditure, the largest share is held by expenditures on food, beverages and tobacco, which decreased by 0.5 percentage points compared to the previous year, reaching 38.1 percent. The structure of cash consumption expenditure differs between urban and rural settlements.

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The main supplier of wine to the United States is traditionally France. In 1Q25, $761.6 million worth of wine was imported from France to the United States.Italy is in second place ($578 million), and New Zealand is in third place ($130.7 million).According to AAWE, Israel (in 11th place with $13.1 million) and Moldova (in 12th place with $8.3 million) are also among the Top-20 wine suppliers to the United States.On April 2, the United States announced large-scale trade tariffs. The 10% tariffs affected a portion of Georgia's exports, including wine, which came into effect on April 5, 2025.For reference, in 2024, the US imported $141 million worth of Georgian goods, including $7.1 million in wine exports.

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A final dividend may only be paid after it has been approved by shareholders. The Board recommends a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2024 of GEL 5.55 per ordinary share of the Company payable in British Pounds Sterling.The Georgian Lari to Pound Sterling exchange rate that will apply to the final dividend payments on the conversion date of 13 June 2025 will be  the  average exchange rate of the National Bank of Georgia for the period from 9 June 2025 to and including 13 June 2025 (5 days average). Subject to approval by shareholders, the final dividend will be paid on 11 July 2025 to shareholders on the register of members at 6:00 pm (London time) on 6 June 2025.The decision was supported by 100% of shareholders - 39,981,537 shares, with no votes against. 71.13% of the company's issued shares participated in the vote.The Group's AGM was held in London on 20 May 2025.

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Natia Turnava briefed on the current situation in the country in terms of macroeconomic and financial stability to the members of the IMF mission, led by Alejandro Hajdenberg.According to the President of the NBG, the National Bank remains committed to the existing monetary policy framework, within which the central bank successfully ensures price stability.The International Monetary Fund mission, which is being carried out within the framework of consultations provided for in Article IV of the IMF’s Articles of Agreement (“Article Four Consultations”), began its work in Georgia on Wednesday.The mission aims to provide the IMF with a review of the current macroeconomic situation in Georgia, as well as the country’s fiscal and monetary policies.The meeting held at the National Bank was also attended by Vice Presidents of the National Bank of Georgia Ekaterine Mikabadze, Ekaterine Galdava and Nino Jeladze. IMF Resident Representative in Georgia Andrew Jewell and heads of NBG departments.In the coming days, the IMF mission will hold working meetings with the Macroeconomics and Statistics, Financial Stability, Financial Markets, Specialized Risks and other departments of the National Bank.At the end of the visit, the mission will hold a summary meeting with the President of the National Bank Natia Turnava and representatives of the ministries of economic profile.The President of the NBG stated about the absence of disagreements with the IMF last week, when presenting the annual report to the parliament. He considered that the open issues have been exhausted and nothing prevents the discussion of further cooperation.As you remember, the IMF’s suspended $280 million program was tied to obligations to be fulfilled within 36 months.The fund had questions about the introduction of the post of First Vice President of the National Bank, which draft was vetoed by President Zurabishvili.This was in February 2023, and in June the parliament returned to the issue (similar to Russian law, although the difference was in the time interval of 1 year and half a year). The veto was overcome and Turnava became First Vice President.Added to this was Turnava’s adoption of an exceptional rule on the implementation of international sanctions, which opponents of the government linked to the sanctioning of Partskhaladze.Third, there was the issue of state-owned enterprise reform.

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Operations are performed with digital security standards and in full compliance with the regulations of the National Bank of GeorgiaSimple interface: the application is available to users with any digital experienceSwiss Capital, in the MFO market (29 months) is positioned in 2nd place with 262 million GEL of assets, including 230 million GEL of loans. In recent years, we have been developing digital channels. As part of the digital transformation, the mobile application Scapp is also being developed as a multifunctional platform designed to increase access to services.Scapp is available in both the App Store and the Play Store.The service is available every day from 10:00 to 22:00.

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He criticized Wilson, claiming the congressman had long expressed contempt toward Georgia, including through actions hostile to the country. Gorduladze reiterated that Georgia has a pro-Western government rooted in democratic values, sovereignty, and national dignity.“This is exactly what Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s open letter and our team’s statements aimed to highlight. We are working to strengthen our strategic partnership with the U.S., taking steps to bring it to a qualitatively new level,” he noted.On Wednesday, May 21, at 18:45 Tbilisi time, United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio made his first statement regarding Georgia since Trump's re-election and the appointment of the new administration. He called the "Georgian Dream" "anti-American."Congressman  Joe Wilson expressed concern about the Georgian Dream party, calling it an “anti-American regime” and accusing it of rigging the October 26 elections, criminalising ties with the U.S., targeting American companies, obstructing trade through the Middle Corridor, and aligning with the Chinese Communist Party.“With that in mind, I’m really grateful that they, with the Rondeli Foundation, just released a report, indicating the control by the Chinese Communist Party now in the Republic of Georgia. And, I’d like to provide this for the record. Additionally, for 200 consecutive days, freedom-loving Georgians have heroically taken to the streets, embracing themselves in American flags and carrying posters of the president. Under your leadership, what will be done to help the State Department impose real costs on the anti-American Georgian Dream on behalf of the people of Georgia?” Joe Wilson asked Secretary Rubio.The U.S. Secretary of State responded that the U.S. foreign policy is guided by national interest.“Going back to what I’ve said earlier in my opening statement, the goal of the United States is our national interests. So, we will look at that and say, is it our national interest to have an anti-American government governing an important part of the world? And if not, we’ll take appropriate actions to impose costs on that government.That’s currently under review, and we’re looking for options and additional options. I have no announcement today specifically on what we plan to do yet, but I can tell you that that is something that’s being discussed and again, a great example of why we’re going to look to our regional bureaus, and our local office on the ground there to provide us guidance as to what are the measures that the government, the anti-American government would be most responsive to,” said Marco Rubio.

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Article 81 of the Company sets out a limit on the maximum total remuneration payable to directors. The limit may only be changed by resolution of the shareholders.At the 2024 Annual General Meeting held in London today, shareholders were presented with a revised remuneration policy, which sets out the maximum total remuneration cap for directors at $1,750,000 (the “Cap”).According to the resolution, the shareholders were proposed to increase the cap to $2,500,000, taking into account the expected appointment of additional directors to the management in 2025, as described in the annual report. Accordingly, it is necessary to increase the cap for remuneration to accommodate the financial effect of this change. The said policy and cap were approved by the shareholders.As a result of the vote, the issue of increasing the maximum total remuneration payable to directors was supported by 100% of the shareholders participating in the vote (38,442,500 shares). 68.39% of the issued share capital of the company participated in the vote.The remuneration policy, approved at the 2024 Annual General Meeting and reflected in the 2024 Annual Report, remains unchanged in all other respects.

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After a long wait, the 100,000 GEL loan limit has been removed (from 16.05.2025), which also limits the long-term partnership of the financier with the business client, because with the expansion of the business, the 100,000 GEL limit can no longer meet the increased needs and is losing customers.Since May 16, along with the increase in the loan limit, the lending opportunities have also increased. However, at the same time, the regulation has also been tightened. The sector will have to increase capital. Loans exceeding 100,000 GEL in the MFO portfolio should not exceed 50% of the regulatory capital.With the new norms (which the NBG introduced to the sector last week), MFOs will have to improve corporate and operational risk management. Compliance with the new standards will require additional resources and, accordingly, increase costs. So, MFOs will not be able to reduce lending rates until they reach equilibrium. But in the future, when they improve management; reduce costs arising from risks; gain greater trust from consumers and investors, there will be an opportunity to make loans cheaper.Earlier, as MBC (Microbank, former MFO) Risk Director Nino Devdariani noted on 1TV.ge, “At the initial stage, regulation is an additional cost, its implementation. The organization has more upfront costs than revenues.”The Chairman of the Board of the Microfinance Association expects the increase in the business portfolio by increasing the limit, as pawnshops and consumer loans are sold with a smaller volume. At the moment, pawnshops prevail.As of Q1/2025, 29 MFOs are represented on the market with a retail portfolio of more than 1.5 billion GEL (791,481 loans), where up to 730,000 loans worth up to 1.2 billion GEL are pawnshops. The quarterly (Q1/2025) net profit of the MFO sector is 29.06 million GEL.

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