GD Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze stated during an interpellation session in Parliament that, despite strong economic performance in recent years, Georgia remains significantly behind all European Union member states, even the poorest, by an estimated 30–40% in economic development. His remarks underscored the government’s view that maintaining high growth rates is essential for long-term progress.
According to Kobakhidze, Georgia’s nominal economy has doubled in U.S. dollar terms over the past four years, while real GDP growth averaged 9.7% from 2021 onward. The country is expected to record nearly 8% economic growth this year. He stressed that these figures place Georgia among the fastest-growing economies in Europe, but the gap with EU standards remains substantial. Georgia’s GDP per capita is projected to surpass USD 10,000 for the first time in 2025, yet this level still falls well below that of any EU member state.
Kobakhidze also highlighted the country’s persistent social challenges. As of last year, 15.6% of the population, around 350,000 people, still lived in poverty. Kobakhidze argued that sustained economic expansion is essential to reducing poverty and improving living standards, noting that strong growth must be preserved to prevent stagnation. “In these conditions, we do not have the luxury of turning down any type of investment project,” he said.
Kobakhidze emphasized that Georgia’s development priorities require attracting high-quality investments and implementing projects that contribute to long-term economic transformation. He insisted that the government will continue supporting initiatives it considers “flawless and free of disadvantages,” stressing that economic advancement must remain a central objective for both policymakers and the public.
