Georgia Economics and Business

The economy of Georgia is a developing, market-based economy with a high level of foreign investment. The country’s GDP in 2018 was estimated at $16.7 billion, making it the 94th largest economy in the world. Georgia’s main trading partner is Turkey, with whom it has a free trade agreement. Other major trading partners include Azerbaijan, Russia and the United States.

According to cheeroutdoor, agriculture is an important sector in Georgia’s economy; crops such as wheat, corn and vegetables are grown on small farms throughout the country. Livestock production including poultry and dairy products is also important for rural households. Fishing provides an important source of income for many coastal communities; fish caught include trout, carp and sturgeon.

The manufacturing sector in Georgia is small but growing; it produces processed foods such as canned fruits and vegetables as well as textiles and leather goods. Tourism has become increasingly important to Georgia’s economy in recent years; it receives around 3 million visitors each year who come to explore its beautiful mountains and historical sites.

The service sector accounts for around 70% of GDP; this includes banking services such as insurance companies, telecommunications providers and international trade operations. Despite its reliance on foreign aid from countries such as the United States, Japan, Germany and France Georgia has made significant progress towards economic development in recent years; this includes investment in infrastructure projects such as roads, ports airports and telecommunications networks which have helped attract foreign investors into the country’s markets.

Overall Georgia’s economy is still relatively underdeveloped compared to other European countries due to its small size but its government has made significant investments into infrastructure projects which have helped attract foreign investors into the country’s markets making it an attractive place to do business due to its stable political climate compared to other Eastern European countries.

In the mid-1980’s, the Environmentalist Party formed the Greens in Georgia, following the first opportunity to openly discuss the Republic’s environmental problems. Despite being a favorite holiday destination, bathing in the Black Sea was now prohibited due to the extensive chemical and bacteriological pollution. At the same time, the country is plagued by serious problems with erosion and deforestation. The new organization united its work for the environment with the defense of non-violence, democracy and human rights. The organization tried to coordinate its actions with similar organizations around the Black Sea. Georgia was the 2nd former Soviet Republic – after Estonia – to be admitted to the European Green Parliament.

Georgia GDP (Nominal, $USD) 2003-2017

  • COUNTRYAAH: Find major trading partners of Georgia, including major exports and major imports with latest trade value and market share as well as growth rate.

Independent

On October 28, 1990, elections were held for Georgia’s Supreme Soviet (Parliament). It was won by the party coalition “The Round Table – Free Georgia”, led by Zviad Gamsakurdia – an opposition politician according to the Soviet regime. The Supreme Soviet decided to change the Republic’s name to the Republic of Georgia (Sakartvelo’s Respublika).

At the same time, the ethnic problems in the country increased. The autonomous regions of South Ossetia and Abkhazia had demanded to maintain their status within the framework of the new republic. In Soviet times, they had the status of autonomous regions of the autonomous republic of Georgia. The continuation of their autonomy status was blankly rejected by Georgia’s new leaders. Both regions therefore declared themselves independent. Georgia’s Supreme Soviet annulled that decision, declared the area in an emergency and organized a blockade of it. Following clashes between South Ossetian partisans and troops from the Georgian Interior Ministry, in 1991 Georgia recognized independence.

On May 27, 1991, Zviad Gamsakurdia was elected President of Georgia, and in September fighting broke out between supporters of President Gamsakurdia and the opposition led by Dzhaba Ioseliani and Tenguiz Kitovani, National Guard commander. After numerous shootings and demonstrations that developed into shootings, on 6 January 1992, Kitovani’s troops attacked the government palace. Gamsakurdia fled to Armenia first and then sought asylum in the Chechen Autonomous Republic, whose president – General Dzhojar Dudayev – sought to disassociate his country from the Russian Federation.

A military council led by Kitovani took power in Tblisi and put the country’s constitution out of order. Some supporters of the crashed president continued to fight in West Georgia against the new regime. In late January 1992, an attempt to end the civil war failed.

In March 1992, former Soviet Foreign Minister Edvard Shevardnadze returned to Georgia to take up the post of President of the Council of State – the supreme body of the Georgian government – until new elections could be held. Shevardnadze declared that his country would normalize relations with the rest of the world and especially the former Soviet republics, although it would not be part of the Society of Independent States (CIS) – the successor to the Soviet Union.

  • Paulsourcing: Top 10 tips for doing business in Georgia, covering country profile and market entry requirement.

Economy

Inflation rate 6.00%
Unemployment rate 11.8%
Gross domestic product (GDP) $ 39,850,000,000
GDP growth rate 5.00%
GDP per capita $ 10,700
GDP by sector
Agriculture 8.20%
Industry 23.70%
Service 67.90%
State budget
Revenue 2.331 billion
Expenditure 2.507 billion
Proportion of the population below the national poverty line 9.2%
Distribution of household income
Top 10% 31.3
Lower 10% 2.0
Industrial production growth rate 1.40%
Investment volume 22.5% of GDP
National debt 44.90% of GDP
Foreign exchange reserves $ 2,945,000,000
Tourism 2014
Visitors 5,516,000
Revenue $ 1,972,000,000

Note: the capital city of Georgia, abbreviated as GEO by abbreviationfinder.org, is Tbilisi with a population of 1,161,000 (2011 estimate). Other major cities include Kutaisi (195,000), Batumi (124,000), Rustavi (121,000) (2011 estimate).

On June 28, a ceasefire was implemented in South Ossetia, monitored by Russian, Georgian and South Ossetian observers. At the same time, Abkhazia’s autonomous authorities decided to limit Georgia’s central government jurisdiction in the area. On August 14, therefore, government forces invaded Abkhazia and occupied its capital, Sujumi. The local authorities sought refuge in the city of Gudauta, which became a resistance pocket. In early October, they extended their control to a significant part of Abkhazia and approached Sujumi – supported by units of the Russian army.

Georgia Economics and Business

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