Georgian Dream Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze told the Parliament that foreign students studying medicine contributed GEL 1.2 billion to Georgia’s economy in 2024, calling it a significant boost for the country. He made the remark during an interpellation session while addressing questions about migration and the presence of foreigners in Georgia.
Kobakhidze said opponents often “manipulate” migration figures by claiming foreigners make up 10% of the population. According to preliminary census data from Geostat, 93.4% of Georgia’s population are Georgian citizens, while the citizenship status of the remaining 6.6% still needs clarification.
He noted that Georgia currently hosts around 37,000 foreign students, mostly from India, as well as 25,000 Ukrainian refugees. In addition, many foreigners in the information technology sector work legally in the country and contribute to rapid growth in that industry.
Kobakhidze emphasized that the only sector with simplified residence procedures is IT, which he said poses no security risks and supports economic development. He added that if needed, the government is ready to hold a separate interpellation focused specifically on immigration policy.
