By decision of the Council of the National Bank of Georgia, the NBG has purchased an additional USD 100 million worth of highest purity (999.9) LBMA standard gold bars for international reserves.

As a result of the current purchase, the share of monetary gold in the international reserves of the NBG will reach 15.5%. It is worth noting the growth trend of international reserves, as a result of which the reserves have reached a historical maximum of USD 7.0 billion, and their volume constitutes 114.8% of the International Monetary Fund`s Assessing Reserve Adequacy (ARA) metric.

This decision is part of the NBG`s long-term international reserve management strategy, aimed at further diversifying its reserve assets, enhancing stability, and safeguarding the reserves against inflationary risks. Monetary gold is a widely recognised reserve asset among global central banks, serving to reduce overall portfolio risk and enhance resilience against geopolitical shocks.

The NBG will continue to manage its international reserves in strict accordance with the principles of safety, liquidity, and profitability. As these reserves continue to grow, the NBG remains receptive to additional diversification opportunities, with future decisions informed by long-term strategic objectives and international best practices.

It should be mentioned that it was precisely the strong macroeconomic fundamentals that enabled the NBG to significantly replenish international reserves in 2025. Specifically, last year the NBG purchased USD 2.4 billion, increasing the reserves to USD 6.16 billion by the end of the year, and further to a historically high figure of USD 6.65 billion in February 2026.

This move aligns with broader global trends, as the world’s central banks continue their longstanding practice of accumulating gold. In the first quarter of 2026 alone, central banks purchased over 970 tonnes of gold, nearly 80% of the total volume acquired throughout 2025 (1,235 tonnes). Total central bank purchases have consistently exceeded the 1,000-tonne mark for four consecutive years (2022–2025).

Furthermore, central bank demand remains largely inelastic to fluctuations in the gold price, effectively providing a stable floor for its market value. The ongoing conflict in Ukraine, escalation in the Middle East, U.S.-China trade tensions, and the U.S.-Iran conflict that erupted in February 2026 have all consistently driven and reinforced a structural risk premium in gold prices, cementing its value as a premier safe-haven asset.