Georgia's economic growth to exceed forecast, amount to 6%-7% in 2026 - PM

TBILISI. Feb 9 (Interfax) - Georgia's economy will grow 6%-7% in 2026, which is higher than the official forecast used for budget purposes, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said.

"The forecast for this year is encouraging and we believe we will exceed the initial forecast [of 5%]. We hope that economic growth will be ensured at least in the range of 6%-7%, which is quite realistic, especially in light of the measures taken against corruption. I think this should also significantly affect the pace of economic growth," Kobakhidze said on a broadcast of the Imedi television channel.

"At the beginning of last year, a campaign was conducted calling for an economic collapse, which failed," he said.

"Economic growth is one of our priorities, and it is logical that ill-wishers of our country pursue the opposite goal - they want to weaken the economy because they see their chance in a weakened economy. If the economy weakens, the social background deteriorates, and in such conditions they have a better chance of achieving a change of government, which they dream of, especially since 2020. We have opposite interests," Kobakhidze said.

"In 2021-2025, the average economic growth rate of our country reached 9.3%," he said. "According to the International Monetary Fund, Georgia will also rank first in terms of the economic growth rate among the countries of the region and Europe in the medium term," he said.

"We have clear plans in the area of economic policy and promoting economic growth. One of our main tasks is to promote the development of Georgia's transport and transit infrastructure, where significant funds are being invested. Large-scale construction is planned, which will certainly contribute to accelerating the country's economic growth rate," he said.

As reported, Georgia's GDP grew 7.5% in 2025 after growing 9.5% in 2024, 7.8% in 2023 and 10.4% in 2022.

For budget purposes, the Georgian Finance Ministry forecasts GDP growth of 5% in 2026.

Key international financial institutions expect the country's GDP growth this year at the level of 5%-5.5%. According to World Bank estimates, the country's economy could grow 5.5% this year, the International Monetary Fund expects growth of 5.3%, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Commission expect 5%, and the UN expects 5.4%.

The rating agencies Fitch and S&P forecast Georgia's GDP growth at the level of 5.3%-5.4%.

The Georgian investment bank TBC Capital (a subsidiary of Georgia's second-largest bank, TBC Bank) forecasts a slowdown in Georgia's GDP growth rate to 4.5% in 2026, while the investment bank Galt & Taggart (a subsidiary of Georgia's largest bank, the Bank of Georgia) is forecasting 6%.