Economics

Imports of bread and pastries down by 40%, exports - by 33%

According to Geostat, in 2024, Georgia imported a total of $92.8 million worth of bakery and confectionery products.TOP-5 countries by importing bakery products in 2024: Russia - $25.75 million Turkey - $16.75 million Ukraine - $12.52 million Bulgaria - $6.84 million Poland - $6.2 million As for bakery product exports, in the first quarter of 2025, a total of $962 thousand worth of products left Georgia, which is $471.8 thousand less than the same period last year ($1.43 million). Exports of this product decreased by 32.8% during the reporting period.In 2024, Georgia exported $6.34 million worth of bakery products.TOP- 5 countries exporting bakery products in 2024: Armenia - $2.88 million Azerbaijan - $2.41 million Uzbekistan - $250 thousand Turkey - $202 thousand Israel - $200 thousand

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Birth rate down by 1.8% in 2024, while death rate up by 2.8% – Geostat

Compared to 2023, in 2024, the share of first-order births in total live births decreased from 37.7 percent to 35.9 percent. The share of the second child remained almost unchanged and equaled 33.7, while the share of the third and next order births increased from 27.5 percent to 29.0 percent.Compared to 2023, in 2024 the share of live births for women aged 25-39 remained almost unchanged (69.5 percent) and decreased for women aged less than 25 (from 24.6 percent to 23.2 percent), while increasing for women aged 40 years and older (from 6.0 percent to 7.3 percent).The mean age of mothers at first birth in 2024 equaled 27.0 years.In 2024, the number of deaths increased by 2.8 percent in annual terms and totaled 43,971 persons. The largest number of deaths was recorded in Tbilisi (12,492) while the smallest – in Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti Region (533).According to the 2024 data, infant mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) equaled 7.4 ‰. The under-5 mortality rate (per 1,000 live births) in 2024 totaled 8.6‰.According to the 2024 data, the negative natural increase was stated in Georgia (the difference between the number of live births and the number of deaths) equaling -4,488. A negative natural increase was registered in all regions except Tbilisi, Adjara A.R. and Kvemo Kartli region.

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Pasta imports decreased by 27%

According to Geostat, in 2024, a total of $20.2 million worth of pasta was imported into Georgia.TOP-3 Pasta Importing Countries in 2024: Russia - $9.71 million Italy - $3.63 million Turkey - $1.9 million As for pasta exports, in 2024, a total of $321 thousand worth of pasta was exported from Georgia, the main part of which ($183,660) was supplied to the Iraqi market.

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15.5 % of GDP by activity is held by Trade

Significant contributions to the real GDP growth in Q4 2024 is related to increase of valueadded of the following activities: Information and communication (29.7 percent), Education (36.2 percent), Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (19.9 percent), Human health and social work activities (23.6 percent), Construction (7.4 percent), Agriculture, forestry and fishing (9.4 percent). A decrease in the real value-added occurred in Real estate activities (-2.3 percent), Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-0.2 percent).A decrease in the real value-added occurred in Real estate activities (-2.3 percent), Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (-0.2 percent).The largest share in GDP by activity is held by Trade (15.5 percent) and Real estate activities (9.6 percent), followed by Construction (9.4 percent), Manufacturing (9.0 percent), Public administration (7.1 percent), Information and communication (6.7 percent), Education (6.2 percent), Transportation and storage (6.0 percent), Agriculture, forestry and fishing (5.2 percent).

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GDP increased by 9.4%

The largest shares of GDP by activity are held by Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (15.2 percent) and real estate activities (9.9 percent), followed by Manufacturing (9.3 percent), Construction (8.4 percent), Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (7.0 percent), Information and communication (6.4 percent), Agriculture, forestry and fishing (6.2 percent), Transportation and storage (5.9 percent), Financial and insurance activities (5.2 percent).In 2024, real growth was registered in Information and communication (24.3 percent), Education (29.1 percent), Public administration and defence; compulsory social security (17.9 percent), Construction (14.2 percent), Wholesale and retail trade; repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles (6.7 percent) and Financial and insurance activities (14.9 percent).A decrease in the real value-added was recorded in Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning supply (-8.3 percent).

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The DPPI increased by 3.6%

In the mentioned period, the prices for manufactured products increased by 0.5 percent. Compared to February 2024, the DPPI increased by 3.6 percent. The prices went up for mining and quarrying by 9.8 percent, for manufactured products by 2.5 percent, for electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning by 9.2 percent and the prices for water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation services remained unchanged.The following table shows the DPPI for February 2025, compared to the same month of the previous year, as well as the contributions of subgroups that had a major effect on the index:

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Public Defender: Public service personnel decisions must adhere to con...

The Office states that “ensuring equality is paramount, and dismissing public servants for openly expressing their civic positions or opinions is unacceptable.”“Since December 2024, the Public Defender’s Office has proactively contacted 41 dismissed individuals, providing detailed information on case procedures and application processes. Notably, some of these individuals plan to take legal action to protect their rights, while others have already approached the Public Defender’s Office.At this stage, the Office is examining eight cases of alleged discrimination in labour relations, affecting a total of 15 individuals.The Public Defender underscores the importance of freedom of expression and highlights that the testimonies and evidence provided by the affected individuals are crucial in resolving these cases. In light of this, employees in public institutions who experience discriminatory treatment due to their opinions are encouraged to contact the Public Defender’s Office,” the statement notes.

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The Producer Price Index for Industrial Products increased in all dire...

The prices for mining and quarrying increased by 3.9% compared to January 2025, resulting in a 0.24 percentage point contribution to the overall monthly PPI change. In the same period, the prices for manufactured products increased by 0.1%, contributing 0.08 percentage points to the monthly index change. Within the group, a noteworthy price increase was registered for food products (0.8 percent) and rubber and plastic products (2.9 percent).Besides, the prices increased for water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation services by 0.1 percent.The annual PPI rate was mainly affected by price changes for the following products: Mining and quarrying: the prices were 30.1 percent higher, contributing 1.64 percentage points to the overall annual index change. Within the group, the prices were higher for the subgroup of metal ores (36.5 percent); Manufactured products: the prices increased by 4.5 percent, contributing 3.63 percentage points to the overall annual index increase. There was a notable increase in the prices for the following subgroups: beverages (7.9 percent) and basic metals (6.0 percent); Electricity, gas, steam and air conditioning: the annual price increase amounted to 6.8 percent, which contributed 0.73 percentage points to the annual index change; Water supply, sewerage, waste management and remediation services: the annual price increase amounted to 2.5 percent, which contributed 0.06 percentage points to the annual index growth.

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Share of the domestic exports in total exports constituted 46.5%

As of the document, in January-February 2025 the share of the top ten trading partners by domestic exports in the total domestic exports of Georgia amounted to 67.7 percent. The top partners were Russia (USD 67.4 million), Türkiye (USD 40.5 million) and China (USD 33.8 million).In January-February 2025 Precious metal ores and concentrates reclaimed the first place in the list of top export items, equaling USD 39.7 million, or 10.2% of total exports. The exports Wine of fresh grapes totaled USD 29.2 million and their share in the total exports amounted to 7.5 percent. The exports of Natural or artificial mineral and aerated waters, not containing sugar, occupied the third place, standing at USD 25.4 million and constituting 6.5% of the total exports.

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Negative trade balance amounts to 53% in Georgia’s external merchandis...

In January-February 2025 the share of the top ten trading partners by exports in the total exports of Georgia amounted to 78.7%. The top partners were: Kyrgyzstan (USD 166.6 million), Kazakhstan (USD 100.7 million), Azerbaijan (USD 97.7 million). In January-February 2025 the share of the top ten trading partners by imports in the total imports of Georgia amounted to 75.5 percent. The top partners were: USA (USD 478.3 million), Russia (USD 344.3 million), Türkiye (USD 337.9 million). In January-February 2025 the share of the top ten trading partners in the total external trade turnover of Georgia amounted to 71.9 percent. The top trading partners were USA (USD 486.9 million), Russia (USD 416.2 million) and Türkiye (USD 384.3 million).In January-February 2025 motor cars claimed the first place in the list of top export items, equaling USD 285.2 million with 34.1 percent of total exports. The exports of precious metal ores and concentrates totaled USD 39.7 million and their share in the total exports amounted to 4.7 percent. The exports of spirituous beverages occupied the third place standing at USD 29.4 million and constituting 3.5 percent of the total exports.The top import commodities in January-February 2025 were Paintings, drawings and pastels (executed entirely by hand), whose imports equaled USD 481.1 million (17.6 percent of the total imports). The motor cars followed in the list with USD 326.8 million (12.0 percent of imports). ThePetroleum and petroleum oils were third in the top import commodity list with USD 202.1 million (7.4 percent of imports).

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Auto loans have also become more expensive

1743162545 • Finance

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Share of bad loans in Basisbank's retail portfolio is 0.005%

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Politics

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CoE Congress adopts resolution on Georgia

The resolution, supported by 101 members with 10 against, expresses deep concern over democratic backsliding and weakening human rights in the country. It highlights growing societal polarization and the adoption of legislation that contradicts Council of Europe standards.“Over the past two years has had an increasingly negative impact on local democracy in Georgia. This has intensified in the aftermath of the 2024 parliamentary elections, which were rejected by all opposition parties, as well as domestic and some international election observers, notably due to concerns over their integrity, and following the decision to halt Georgian EU accession on 28 November 2024,” the resolution reads.It also notes that “following the highly controversial adoption of the Law on Transparency of Foreign Influence and the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA) adopted in first reading, NGOs and dissenting voices in the media, which work under increasingly challenging conditions, have been increasingly subjected to intimidation and stigmatisation. This undermines their freedom of association and freedom of expression. In a democratic society, freedom of expression must be protected, supported and promoted irrespective of whether it is critical of the government, and even if it is influenced by international discourse.The brutal repression of peaceful protesters and opponents by law-enforcement authorities in many cities, and particularly in the capital city of Tbilisi, has violated both the freedoms of expression and assembly. Moreover, freedom of assembly in Georgia has been negatively affected by recent amendments to legislation that increase sanctions and offences related to public demonstrations, which according to the Venice Commission introduced “vague and broadly framed provisions, granting the authorities [including local authorities] excessively broad discretion in their application”. This situation has forced local authorities to take decisions that do not comply with democratic standards.The instrumentalisation of public institutions, including at local level, has resulted in numerous reports of dismissals, intimidation and pressure on civil servants. This has been facilitated by the adoption of amendments to the Law on Public Service.”It also addresses concerns expressed in recent reports by international and local observers “regarding the politicisation of public administration, widespread misuse of administrative resources and pressure on voters during electoral campaigns, which unduly tilt the playing field between candidates and distort the will of voters.”“The legal framework applicable to local elections in Georgia has been amended more than 20 times since the last elections, without extensive consultations and broad consensus. This is not in line with the principle of stability of electoral law. The amendments have moreover reinforced the dominant position of the ruling party in the Central Election Commission, undermining its independence, and have also wound back fundamental rules pertaining to the electoral system, gender quotas and the establishment of electoral districts.It notes with concern that these serious shortcomings and challenges affecting the respect of democracy, rule of law and human rights have led to a collapse in public confidence in democratic institutions for large parts of the Georgian population, and notably the young people, and damaged local democracy, which is not conducive to holding the 2025 local elections in a trust-based environment; in fact, it risks exacerbating the situation,” the document reads.

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Georgian Foreign Relations Committee delegation pays official visit to...

According to the Georgian Parliament, during the visit, Nikoloz Samkharadze and the delegation met with several Serbian officials, including the Vice-Speaker of the Serbian Parliament, Chairwoman of the Foreign Affairs Committee Marina Ragush, and members of her committee, as well as Vice-Speaker Elvira Kovac, who chairs the European Integration Committee.The meetings focused on the friendly relations between Georgia and Serbia and explored various areas of cooperation. Both sides emphasized the importance of advancing diplomatic relations, particularly, to establish full-fledged embassies in both countries soon.Discussions also covered issues related to EU accession, the necessary reforms to achieve this goal, and the exchange of experiences. The parties welcomed the entry of the Serbian airline into the Georgian aviation market, which is set to commence regular flights on the Belgrade-Tbilisi route starting June 15.“Georgia and Serbia share numerous commonalities. First and foremost, we are both candidate countries for EU membership, and our foreign policy objective is to join the EU. It is important to highlight that both countries face challenges regarding territorial integrity and similar domestic political issues. We enjoy strong political relations and unconditionally support each other’s territorial integrity, which should foster closer ties. We hope that in the coming months, a Serbian embassy will be established in Tbilisi, while Georgia’s diplomatic mission in Serbia will transition into a full-fledged embassy. There is significant potential for growth in trade and tourism,” stated Nikoloz Samkharadze.The Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee also extended an invitation to his Serbian counterparts for an official return visit to Tbilisi.During the visit, members of the Foreign Relations Committee engaged with representatives of Serbian delegations to the OSCE and the Parliamentary Assemblies of the Council of Europe, discussing cooperation between the two countries within the framework of these Parliamentary Assemblies. Meetings were also held with the Serbian Institute of International Politics and Economics analysts.The delegation includes Mariam Lashkhi, the First Deputy Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee, and Irakli Mezurnishvili, a committee member.

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EU Integration Committee Chair: Unclear who Germany has restricted; po...

“This is yet another lifeline from the outgoing German government aimed at the fading protests and the disappeared opposition. It appears to be a self-serving move by those forces that seem to be behind the street violence. With insufficient public support to block the streets, they are attempting to reignite the fading protests through such measures. Their main motivation appears to be leaving some form of ‘legacy’ for the new German government rather than seeking to harm bilateral relations.As for our expectations, we do not set any special ones. Our focus is clear: to foster bilateral and multilateral relationships based on shared interests. If there is genuine German interest, we can find common ground. We are committed to enhancing these relations and removing all possible barriers. We hope the new German government shares this motivation. If so, we will have many opportunities for collaboration, although the ultimate outcome will depend on their stance,” Makhashvili concluded.

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Khazaradze's case to be sent to Prosecutor's Office for non-attendance...

“Mamuka Khazaradze made it clear through his Facebook post that he would not attend the commission meeting today, nor at any point soon,” Tsulukiani stated.“Given his remarks, I propose we vote to submit his case to the Prosecutor’s Office. According to Article 349 of the Criminal Code, failing to comply with the commission’s requirements can result in criminal penalties, including imprisonment for up to one year.”Regarding Badri Japaridze, also a leader of Lelo, Tsulukiani revealed that he might have a more significant role in the Magniti LTD case but did not respond to calls from the commission’s secretariat.“I find it concerning that he chose not to answer, and I can’t assume that these two had coordinated their absences beforehand,” she added.In his Facebook post, Khazaradze referred to the “illegitimate parliament” and dismissed the meeting as a “circus show.”Today’s interim facts-finding commission meeting will address the Magniti LTD case. Businessman Jemal Leonidze has accused TBC Bank, Mamuka Khazaradze, Badri Japaridze, and former Defense Minister Davit Kezerashvili of seizing his property.

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Kavelashvili rejects Zourabichvili's lawsuit against Law on Transparen...

“The law ensures transparency and accountability, reinforcing Georgia’s national sovereignty and stable development.It aims to inform the public about the funding sources of organizations advocating foreign interests.Based on these principles, President Kavelashvili decided to reject the lawsuit,” the Presidential Administration stated.