Georgia
Emerging and Frontier markets fintech ready to break out
The Digital Intelligence Index (DII) put together by specialist Emerging and Frontier market investment fund Sturgeon Capital provides insights into the potential for fintech investments in emerging and developing markets.
Georgian billionaire Ivanishvili wins $926 million from Credit Suisse in court
The court found that a unit of the bank had acted in bad faith and failed to safeguard Ivanishvili's assets, resulting in substantial losses.
Freedom House says Ukraine war threatens democracy across Emerging Europe
Democratic governance deteriorates in Emerging Europe and Central Asia, with worst declines in already authoritarian regions.
Reward from Putin: Moscow cancels visas for Georgia and renews direct flights
The move is widely regarded as the Kremlin’s reward for the Georgian government’s restrained stance on the Ukraine war and its "anti-Western propaganda".
Georgia's absence from US-led military exercise in Europe raises concerns
Georgia's decision not to participate in the US-led "Defender 23" military exercises has raised concerns about the weakening of the country's pro-Western foreign policy.
CENUSA: The European Political Community in Russia’s closeness: strengthening the "circle of friends" in the EU's neighbourhood
The EU should leverage the diplomatic aspect of the Community to amplify the pro-European message in its eastern neighbourhood. While keeping Georgia close is crucial, so is integrating Armenia and Azerbaijan.
ECHR orders Russia to pay €130 million to Georgia for crimes during 2008 war
The crimes committed during the war included the killing of civilians by separatist forces, arson, and looting of homes, torture of prisoners of war, and preventing displaced persons from returning to their homes.
Georgia deepens trade relations with Russia despite Ukraine war
In the first quarter, Russian goods imports to Georgia increased by 79% y/y, while Georgia's export of goods to Russia increased by 61%.
ING: World trade to see big shifts and weaker growth in 2023
World trade has been falling, but we still expect growth to return this year. We do notice large shifts in world trade as advanced economies – especially the US – are diversifying input sourcing.
Data indicate Korea exporters dodge sanctions by shipping to Russia via Central Asia, South Caucasus
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Georgia among countries that appear to be conduits for sanctioned goods from East Asia nation.
ING: IMF remains cautious on world economic outlook
Amid a downgrade to the IMF’s global growth forecast, EM sovereigns should remain resilient with areas of relative growth outperformance, easing pressure on commodity importers and fiscal reform momentum.
Russia’s parallel imports hindered by Central Asia bottleneck
E-commerce companies are actively exploring options for building logistics sites in Kazakhstan.
CENUSA: The uncertain EU pre-accession dialogue calendar for Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia
"The course of the EU's pre-accession dialogue with Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia is not yet predetermined, but the quality of the reforms and the degree of compliance with the requirements will be important in the political decisions of Brussels..."
Top EU official says 'real divergence' between Georgian rhetoric and reality on accession
Mathernova says Georgia needs to shed its sense of “entitlement” and knuckle down to do the hard work to pass the bloc's milestones.
IMF: Volatile commodity prices reduce growth and amplify swings in inflation
Food and energy prices surged to near historic highs in recent years amid the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, which prompted major supply disruptions. This was accompanied by a sharp rise in the volatility of commodity prices as well.
Georgia sticking with its EU ambitions
Despite mass demonstrations in Georgia against the seemingly pro-Russian “foreign agents” law in March and growing Russian trade turnover following the start of the war in Ukraine, the government in Tbilisi remains dedicated to joining the EU.
Georgia’s economy outperforms with 10% broad-based growth and record investment in 2022
The Georgian economy has bounced back fast from the series of sharp shocks of recent years, and rather than being dragged down by the polycrisis that has been unfolding.
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All to play for in Russian-Chinese backyard
Russia and China will struggle for common policy on possible Russian soft underbelly Central Asia, Afghanistan, Mongolia, the vital Europe/Asia Caucasus crossroads, the Baltics, CEE and SEE.
TBC Bank looks to Uzbekistan for growth
Georgia's leading bank is expanding its international operations and investing in cutting-edge banking technologies.
COMMENT: Georgia’s uneasy path towards EU membership
Since communism collapsed and Georgia achieved independence, we have only too often witnessed an ambivalence about the country's future direction among its ruling elites.