Georgia’s insurance sector says that reducing losses from natural disasters requires strict land-use planning alongside insurance. Devi Khechinashvili, chairman of the Georgian Insurance Association, said insurance cannot work effectively unless the state clearly defines where construction is allowed and where it should be restricted due to high risks.
According to Khechinashvili, the first step in disaster management should be risk zoning. Areas most exposed to floods and other hazards should face construction limits, while insurance can operate effectively in areas where risks are measurable and manageable.
He also warned that people often buy cheaper land in dangerous locations, leading to major losses during natural disasters. Citing cases such as the 2015 Tbilisi flood, he said many damaged properties were built in unsafe areas, and later legalization does not remove the underlying risks.
Khechinashvili said Georgia has international risk studies identifying vulnerable areas, but these findings are not fully applied. He stressed that construction permits should be linked to risk assessments so that insurance can provide real protection where risks are predictable.
