Kobakhidze: Average Economic Growth Reached 7.6 Percent in First Eight Months of 2026

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said in a speech at the COP17 Leaders' Summit that the country is maintaining a high pace of economic development. According to him, average economic growth reached 7.6 percent during the first eight months of 2026.

The prime minister noted that the World Bank has recently raised its forecast for Georgia's economic growth in 2026 to 7 percent. According to the same organization's forecast, Georgia will achieve the highest economic growth rate among European countries in 2026–2028.

According to Kobakhidze, the government's priority is for the results of economic growth to also be felt by the population of villages and mountainous regions.

"Our priority is to ensure that the results of economic growth are also felt by the population of villages and mountainous regions, whose livelihoods depend directly on natural resources. That is why we are turning protected areas, forest restoration and sustainable tourism into driving forces of local development, so that nature protection creates jobs and new opportunities not only in big cities, but also beyond their borders," the prime minister said.

According to him, achieving long-term results also requires cooperation beyond borders. Common ecosystems in the South Caucasus create an important basis for deepening regional partnership and sustainable development, and Georgia is ready to protect our common natural heritage through close cooperation with neighboring countries.