He said that the transaction is a significant event for the Georgian banking sector, both in terms of its scale and content."It is worth noting the importance of this transaction in the context of international investments, in particular in the direction of Chinese capital. It is noteworthy that the financial sector has been leading in terms of attracting foreign direct investments in Georgia for years. This transaction is another proof that the Georgian banking sector is in an active development phase and is attractive to foreign investors," said Beka Dochviri.As he noted, the implementation of such a large transaction for the financial sector is a very responsible event and required close cooperation with the National Bank."The implementation of such a large transaction for the financial sector is a very responsible event and requires close cooperation with the regulator both in terms of protecting the interests of consumers and maintaining financial stability in the sector. Accordingly, in order to effectively conduct this process, the National Bank has been actively cooperating with both banks over the past year," said Beka Dochviri.Another important aspect of the transaction is the strengthening of market competition."The merger of Basisbank and Liberty Bank creates a real opportunity for the emergence of a third relatively large systemic bank in the banking system, which, as a result of resource optimization and economies of scale, will contribute to the improvement of the competitive environment, which in turn will have a positive impact on the well-being of consumers. Ultimately, the acquisition of Liberty Bank by Basisbank is not just a merger of companies - it is a step towards a more competitive, diverse, development-oriented banking system," said Beka Dochviri.

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The discussions centred on Georgia’s current economic landscape and the robust indicators within its financial sector. The participants underscored the National Bank of Georgia’s consistent monetary policy and the resilience of the financial system.The conversation also addressed broader global challenges and the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with reflections on how its duration may influence current macroeconomic forecasts.The IMF Managing Director praised Georgia’s achievement in maintaining healthy macroeconomic indicators and strong financial buffers.Attending the meeting were NBG Vice Presidents Ekaterine Mikabadze, Ekaterine Galdava, and Nino Jeladze, as well as Deputy Ministers of Finance Ekaterine Guntsadze and Giorgi Kakauridze.

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According to him, Georgia stands out not only in the region but also in the world, both in terms of reforms and economic development."According to the forecast for the last 5 years, Georgia is the fastest growing economy. We talked about specific infrastructure projects financed by the World Bank. In addition, we discussed future projects, the implementation and financing of which the World Bank will be very actively involved. These will be both road and railway infrastructure, as well as water systems and other infrastructure projects that are fully consistent with the priorities of our country. The World Bank remains one of the largest investors in Georgia, having invested more than 5 billion  USD," noted Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili.According to him, the World Bank continues to actively invest in the Georgian economy.

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According to the statistics of the National Bank of Georgia, the maximum share of remittances in March - 45.4% ( $145.6 million; +10.7%Y.Y) falls on the European Union countries.The most growing flows are from Spain (+25.2%Y.Y) and France (+18.1%Y.Y).

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This transaction marks a significant milestone in the development of Georgia’s banking sector and creates new opportunities in the market. The combined strength of two successful financial institutions with complementary capabilities, will significantly enhance competition and enable the delivery of a broader range of financial products and services to customers.“This transaction marks a defining moment in the history of two successful banks. The acquisition of Liberty Bank creates a unique opportunity to leverage the synergy of human expertise and technological capabilities to build a strong universal financial platform, equally focused on the development of both business and retail segments.Through this transaction, we are strengthening competition in the market while delivering greater value to our customers. With increased capacity, we will expand access to financing and unlock new opportunities for businesses, playing a significant role in driving Georgia’s economic growth” said David Tsaava, General Director of JSC Basisbank.Beka Gogichaishvili, General Director of JSC Liberty Bank, commented: “It has been a privilege to lead the Liberty team during a period of significant transformation and growth. I would like to express my sincere gratitude to our employees for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment, which have been fundamental to the bank’s success. I am confident that this transaction will open a new chapter for the bank, creating additional opportunities for our customers, our team, and the broader financial sector, while contributing to the development of Georgia’s economy.”To ensure strong governance and seamless transition, David Tsaava will assume the role of General Director of both Basisbank and Liberty Bank.At this stage, both institutions continue to operate independently, ensuring full continuity of services, products, and customer experience.About BasisbankBasisbank is one of the largest financial institutions in Georgia, offering banking, leasing, and insurance services to corporate clients, small and medium-sized enterprises, and retail customers. The bank creates a comprehensive ecosystem focused on customer success and long-term trust.According to 2025 financial results, the bank’s total assets amount to GEL 4.9 billion, with a gross loan portfolio of GEL 3.3 billion, a deposit portfolio of GEL 3.5 billion and net profit of GEL 122.4 million.About Liberty BankLiberty Bank is one of the largest financial institutions in Georgia, with over 1.7 million retail clients and more than 60,000 SME customers.The bank operates the most extensive network in the country, with approximately 500 service centers and up to 700 ATMs, covering all regions and municipalities. The number of employees exceeds 5,600.The bank’s total assets amount to GEL 5.8 billion, with a gross loan portfolio of GEL 4.2 billion, a deposit portfolio of GEL 4.17 billion and net profit of GEL 128 million for 2025.

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According to the minister, the issue is strengthening the country's connectivity, which includes the road, rail, maritime and air infrastructure of the Middle Corridor. The energy sector is also an area of ​​interest for the bank.A special AIIB mission will visit Georgia in the near future, within the framework of which the parties will discuss specific projects that the bank will finance in Georgia.

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According to the National Bank of Georgia, the discussions centred on Georgia’s fiscal and monetary policies, macroeconomic outlook, and prospects for further cooperation with the IMF.It was reaffirmed that Georgia’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain robust, and the country’s external position has markedly improved in recent years.The meeting noted that as of March 2026, headline inflation stood at 4.3%. Core inflation remained below the target, at approximately 2.4%, while inflation in services stayed close to the target, reaching 3.3%.“These indicators, which better reflect long-term inflation trends, suggest that inflation expectations are well managed,” stated the President of the National Bank.The discussion also highlighted the NBG’s strategy of building international currency reserves, with a positive assessment of Georgia’s foreign currency reserves reaching a record high in 2025. For the first time since 2022, international reserves exceeded the 100% adequacy threshold.The talks also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, with concerns expressed that prolonged instability could impact the country’s economic forecasts.On his part, Jihad Azour remarked that despite regional uncertainties and the conflict, Georgia has been effectively managing external shocks and maintaining a stable economic environment.The meeting was attended by the Vice Presidents of the National Bank of Georgia, Ekaterine Mikabadze, Ekaterine Galdava, and Nino Jeladze, as well as Deputy Ministers of Finance, Giorgi Kakauridze and Ekaterine Guntsadze

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Lion Finance Group (BGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 107.60/share (+10.93% w/w and +2.09% m/m). More than 347k shares traded in the range of GBP 96.45 - 109.20/share. Average daily traded volume was 123k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of BGEO shares traded was at 0.80% of its capitalization.TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN) closed the week at GBP 47.16/share (+9.29% w/w and +5.39% m/m). More than 385k shares changed hands in the range of GBP 42.48 - 48.26/share. Average daily traded volume was 78k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of TBCG shares traded was at 0.69% of its capitalization.Georgia Capital (CGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 40.55/share (+4.65% w/w and +10.34% m/m). More than 145k shares traded in the range of GBP 37.85 - 40.60/share. Average daily traded volume was 56k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of CGEO shares traded was at 0.42% of its capitalization. 

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The increase in oil prices in international markets and the deterioration of investor sentiment in the stock market led to a correction in the annual dynamics of portfolios. This was most evident in portfolios with a high share of international equities: Dynamic Portfolio: -3.08% decrease Balanced Portfolio: -1.85% decrease Conservative Portfolio: -0.39% slight decrease According to the fund, the stability of the portfolios was maintained by the stable profitability of local assets. Despite the March decline, all three portfolios have remained positive since the beginning of the year, and the annualized returns since their creation range from 11% to 13%.There are currently 1 million 727 thousand people enrolled in the pension scheme. As of March 31, 2026, 30,138 people have already benefited from the accumulated pension, for which a total of GEL 145.5 million was issued.The Fund also warns citizens that from April 9 to April 13, due to the holidays, it will be impossible to receive services both on the hotline and at the branches of the House of Justice and at the Fund's reception area.

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As Natia Turnava noted during her speech at the briefing, she is pleased that the IMF mission has positively assessed Georgia’s monetary and fiscal policies."The IMF noted that the country's monetary policy is prudent, which is most important in a challenging global environment. It also highlighted Georgia's high economic activity and improved external position. As you know, the current account deficit was historically low, amounting to 2.6% of GDP in 2025. For us, the National Bank, this means that there are still favorable conditions for the continuation of the accumulation of international reserves. There are also strong foreign exchange inflows through various channels, including trade. The IMF also noted in its review that last year foreign exchange reserves reached a record high and for the first time since 2022, the volume of international reserves exceeded the 100% adequacy threshold last year," Natia Turnava noted.She also spoke about inflationary expectations and emphasized that sentiments are well managed in terms of inflationary expectations. According to her, at the same time, it is necessary to take into account the ongoing hostilities in the Middle East, which caused high volatility in international commodity markets, including the Georgian market, and disruptions in logistics chains, which is an additional pressure on prices."This is an additional inflationary shock, the strength of which will depend on the duration of the conflict and the stabilization of oil prices in the international market. Therefore, this is a challenge that we must respond to with cautious and effective monetary policy steps, for which we are ready," added the President of NBG.According to Natia Turnava, one of the issues discussed within the framework of the IMF mission's visit was the improvement of the governance of the National Bank. According to her, according to the IMF's assessment, the recommendations of the IMF in terms of governance improvements have been partially implemented by the Georgian government, while work is underway on the rest.

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