Tbilisi (GBC) - The National Bank of Georgia (NBG), in collaboration with the Ministry of Finance, hosted the Steering Committee meeting of the International Monetary Fund’s Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia Regional Capacity Development Center (CCAMTAC).
The meeting brought together Steering Committee members from participating countries, along with representatives from CCAMTAC’s donor and partner organizations. Among the attendees were Subir Lall, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, and Andrew Jewell, IMF Resident Representative in Georgia.
During the meeting, participants reviewed the center’s recent activities and discussed the work program for the coming year. The agenda included deliberations on regional workshops, financial resources, and upcoming initiatives planned by the center and its partners.
In her remarks, Ekaterine Mikabadze, First Vice Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, highlighted the importance of the IMF’s continued support. She noted that the Fund’s leadership, expertise, and long-term commitment have been instrumental in establishing CCAMTAC and shaping its strategic direction.
“The IMF’s ongoing support ensures that CCAMTAC remains a cornerstone of regional capacity development, empowering our countries to enhance macroeconomic resilience and navigate a complex and challenging global environment,” said Mikabadze.
According to the First Vice Governor of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), the Bank fully recognizes the value of market-oriented educational programs, as well as the importance of knowledge and experience sharing. In line with this vision, and under the initiative of NBG Governor Natia Turnava, an educational space project a centralized platform was launched to encourage professionals across the region to both acquire and exchange expertise. She noted that the NBG is actively collaborating with international partners to support and advance this initiative.
“Our collaboration with CCAMTAC is invaluable. Together, we organize seminars and workshops for central bank representatives from across the region, further reinforcing our long-standing partnership,” noted Mikabadze.
Norbert Funke, Director of CCAMTAC, highlighted the four-year partnership with Georgia, expressing gratitude for the country’s active role in sharing its experience with monetary policy implementation across the region.
“Over the past four years, we have enjoyed a close relationship with Georgia. CCAMTAC’s technical assistance has supported areas such as fiscal risk management, banking supervision, statistics, and more. What impressed us most was Georgia’s proactive sharing of its experience within the region. We are grateful that Georgia has hosted delegations from other countries, providing a platform to exchange insights and demonstrate how various aspects of monetary policy are implemented. A sincere thank you to our Georgian colleagues,” said Norbert Funke.
As Subir Lall, Deputy Director of the IMF’s Middle East and Central Asia Department, noted, CCAMTAC serves as a vital pillar of the IMF’s engagement with the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia. He highlighted that strengthening institutional capacity is a key driver in shaping effective macroeconomic policies. Lall also underscored the importance of bringing together all CCAMTAC partners and member countries to reflect on achievements and define future priorities.
“Georgia’s role has been significant from the outset of the center’s establishment. It has not only actively participated in CCAMTAC’s activities but also assumed a leadership role in fostering collaboration among peers. Georgia has helped cultivate an environment of trust and open dialogue around shared challenges facing all member countries. It is especially important that we have used our time productively, and I believe Georgia’s leadership in advancing CCAMTAC’s initiatives and promoting regional cooperation sets the stage for a successful year ahead,” stated Subir Lall.
The International Monetary Fund’s Regional Capacity Development Center for the Caucasus, Central Asia, and Mongolia (CCAMTAC) is a collaborative initiative between the IMF and nine member countries: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Launched in Almaty in 2021, the center serves a region with a combined population of over 100 million people. Its primary mission is to support the development of the region’s economic potential through targeted capacity-building activities.
