According to Turnava, the Lari is one of the most vital symbols of Georgia’s economic independence and sovereignty.“On April 9, 1991, following the restoration of Georgia’s statehood, we established an independent monetary and credit system. Since that time, preparations have been underway to design, name, and define the technical parameters of our national currency. On October 2, 1995, the Lari was officially declared the sole legal tender throughout Georgia,” she recalled.Turnava further emphasized that the National Bank of Georgia, in collaboration with regional central banks, consistently addresses various challenges, including inflation. She noted that Georgia has successfully maintained low inflation rates despite the complexities of a small, open economy influenced by external factors.“Nevertheless, we recognize that Georgia’s economy is small and highly open, making us sensitive to external influences. Consequently, we focus heavily on risk management, prudent monetary policy, reducing high dollarization levels, fostering innovation through new financial technologies, and tackling other pressing issues,” she explained.The NBG president underscored the importance of strengthening regional cooperation among financial systems and regulators to effectively respond to challenges such as global fragmentation and regional integration.The international conference, attended by over 300 guests from 30 countries, is organized as part of the 30th anniversary celebrations of the Georgian Lari. Participants will engage in discussions on the challenges and opportunities facing the global financial system.

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The President emphasized that the national currency has evolved significantly over the years, with continuous improvements to banknotes of various denominations.“Over its three-decade history, the Lari has made remarkable progress. Since 2014, we have introduced a distinctive symbol that enhances its recognition internationally—a vital step in establishing Georgia’s monetary identity. The banknotes feature national symbols, historical figures, and cultural icons, reinforcing our sense of identity and filling us with pride. The primary role of the National Bank is to safeguard the country’s financial stability. In this mission, our economic team, and especially the National Bank, have achieved great success—despite facing unprecedented challenges such as pandemics, geopolitical tensions, war, and global instability. Through resilience and prudent management, our financial system has proven its strength, maintaining high international ratings,” Kavelashvili stated.He expressed heartfelt gratitude to the National Bank of Georgia, its leadership, and its staff for their exceptional contributions to the country’s financial stability and the ongoing development and fortification of the Georgian Lari.

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During the meeting, Turnava provided an overview of Georgia’s current economic landscape, highlighting the country’s stable macroeconomic environment and strong economic fundamentals factors that have enabled Georgia to effectively navigate global economic challenges.She emphasized the resilience and sustainability of Georgia’s financial sector, which continues to attract growing interest from international investors."Georgia’s stable macroeconomic environment and the resilience of its financial sector continue to attract international investors. A Japanese investor entering the financial sector is a strong endorsement for any country. Japan is known for its sound financial system and long-standing investment traditions, characterized by steady and consistent financing. Gojo & Company’s plans for Georgia reflect a long-term vision and commitment."Taejun Shin, whose company owns a 16.8% stake in Credo Bank, marking the first-ever Japanese investment in Georgia’s financial sector, praised the country’s economic trajectory.“We see Georgia as a country with strong growth potential,” said Shin. “Japanese investors value long-term partnerships and sustainable development. We intend to expand our investments in Georgia particularly in support of regional communities and we’re confident in Georgia’s continued progress.”Taejun Shin, founder and CEO of the Japanese social impact investment firm Gojo & Company, is in Tbilisi to participate in an international conference commemorating the 30th anniversary of the introduction of the Georgian lari, a key event highlighting the nation’s economic independence and financial resilience.

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However, if we look at the trend of profitable banks (11) instead of the consolidated one, the growth is more impressive. The profit for 4 months is GEL 1.05 billion.The net profit of 2 systemic banks (TBC/BOG) increased by 10% year-on-year.

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The total portfolio, as of May 1, exceeds 131 million GEL (L/Y 64.4 million. +104%Y.Y).In addition, lending in GEL is growing over foreign currency. The dollarization coefficient of the loan portfolio is 33.6% (01.05.2024 – 40.6%). Which also reduces the bank's reserve requirement. As you know, the reserve ratio is minimal for a portfolio dollarized less than 40%.The bank's losses have increased annually. Silk ended January-April with a loss of more than 7 million GEL (L:/Y – 2.5 million).

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According to the January-April report, the bank is the leader in deposits of individuals (15.1 billion).The annual growth of the retail deposit portfolio exceeds 50% (01.05.2024 - 9.5 billion. + 52%Y.Y).The systemic bank ended 4 months of 2025 with a profit of 520 million GEL and is number one among (11) profitable banks with a 50% share (01.05.2024 - (13) 50.5%/GEL475.4 billion).

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The NBG reports that, as of April 2025, the banking sector maintains healthy capital and liquidity indicators. Compared to the previous year, credit activity has gradually normalized, with the annual growth of loans—excluding exchange rate effects—reaching 15.5% in April 2025.“The National Bank remains committed to reducing structural risks associated with high levels of dollarization in the economy. Despite significant progress in decreasing dollarization through measures implemented by the NBG, the associated structural risks continue to pose considerable challenges for the financial sector. In line with its long-term de-dollarization policy, the National Bank, in coordination with industry stakeholders and considering macroeconomic conditions and risks, continues to implement these measures. As part of this policy, the limit on unhedged foreign currency loans has been increased from GEL 500,000 to GEL 750,000,” the NBG stated.The next meeting of the Financial Stability Committee is scheduled for October 1, 2025.

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As a result, the country's international reserves amount to 4.52 billion USD.According to the National Bank, the accumulation of international reserves is one of the important guarantees of Georgia's macroeconomic stability. So, when there is an appropriate opportunity in the market, the NBG actively uses the policy of replenishing reserves.The foreign exchange interventions carried out by the National Bank on the Bmatch platform during 2025 look like this: In January-February – no net purchase was carried out March – net purchase of 101.7 million USD April – net purchase of 266.4 million USD The National Bank plans to publish updated data on operations carried out in the foreign exchange market on June 25, 2025.

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Lion Finance Group (BGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 66.85/share (+5.03% w/w and +17.90% m/m). More than 251k shares traded in the range of GBP 64.00 - 67.75/share. Average daily traded volume was 65k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of BGEO shares traded was at 0.57% of its capitalization.TBC Bank Group (TBCG LN) closed the week at GBP 45.80/share (+0.88% w/w and +1.78% m/m). More than 242k shares changed hands in the range of GBP 43.75 - 46.45/share. Average daily traded volume was 93k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of TBCG shares traded was at 0.43% of its capitalization.Georgia Capital (CGEO LN) shares closed at GBP 19.02/share (+1.49% w/w and +24.15% m/m). More than 163k shares traded in the range of GBP 18.44 - 19.54/share. Average daily traded volume was 99k in the last 4 weeks. The volume of CGEO shares traded was at 0.41% of its capitalization.

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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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