Strong policies and growing public confidence have strengthened faith in the Georgian currency, the lari, ensuring financial sector stability, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in his speech at the 51st International Banking Conference of the Banking Association of Central and Eastern Europe (BACEE).
As the head of government noted, the majority of deposits in Georgia today are in lari, which “was not the case in 2025.”
“This achievement is closely supported by a strong financial sector, which is the backbone of the economy and ensures stability and access to finance. Today, the sector consists of 19 banks, including 3 digital and 2 micro banks. They maintain solid capital and liquidity positions; asset quality also remains high, which contributes to sustainable economic growth.
This progress is also reflected in the international capital markets, where the shares of leading Georgian banks are listed. Currently, one of the leading Georgian banks has joined the top 100 of the FTSE (Financial Times Stock Exchange) index of securities, which includes the 100 largest companies listed on the London Stock Exchange. At the same time, medium-sized banks are also operating smoothly and offer a diverse range of financial services to their customers.
Georgian banks are steadily expanding in the region and expanding their geographical reach. This strengthens regional connectivity, plays an increasingly important role in facilitating deeper financial integration and cooperation,” said Irakli Kobakhidze.
In addition, as Kobakhidze noted in his speech, “today we see growing interest from investors from all over the world in the Georgian financial sector, both from traditional banking activities and from a wide range of financial service providers.”
According to him, the regulatory framework of the Georgian financial sector is transparent and flexible.
“Today, we see growing investor interest in Georgia’s financial sector from all over the world, both from traditional banking and a wide range of financial service providers. This is reinforced by the continuous efforts of the Government of Georgia and the National Bank to promote competition, encourage innovation, and further develop the financial ecosystem.
It is also important to note that the regulatory framework of the Georgian financial sector is transparent and flexible; it closely complies with international standards. It also promotes innovation, lowers barriers to entry for new players, and protects financial stability.
In this regard, the National Bank of Georgia has introduced a wide range of licensing formats aimed at supporting innovation and expanding financial services. These include the microbanking framework and the licensing of digital banks. In addition, a regulatory framework for virtual asset service providers has been created, which creates new opportunities for financial technologies and market participants,” the Prime Minister said.
According to Kobakhidze, along with the development of the banking sector, Georgia's capital markets are also developing.
"Along with the development of the banking sector, Georgia's capital markets are also developing. Interest in both government and corporate bonds is growing, which contributes to the diversification of funding sources. Together, these efforts are shaping a more dynamic, competitive and future-oriented financial ecosystem, opening up new opportunities for sustainable investment growth.
Georgia remains an open economy, ready to deepen ties with our international partners for stronger cooperation and new opportunities. I am confident that today's discussion will offer practical ways and contribute to the future strengthening of the banking sector," the Prime Minister said.
