At a joint meeting of the Diaspora and Caucasus Issues, the EU Integration, and the Culture Committees, First Deputy Finance Minister Giorgi Kakauridze presented the six-month report on the execution of Georgia’s 2026 State Budget.

In reviewing budget execution during the reporting period, the speaker addressed economic growth indicators, inflation, foreign trade, and the execution of the consolidated and state budgets.

According to the First Deputy Minister, the trend of economic growth has continued this year as well.

“In the first six months of this year, economic growth stood at 7.9%. We have already revised our economic growth forecast, which now stands at 6.3%. These figures are in line with the forecasts of international financial institutions, which have also upgraded their economic growth projections for Georgia”, - said Giorgi Kakauridze.

According to him, Georgia’s foreign trade turnover in goods amounted to USD 12.925 million during the reporting period, representing a 5.8% increase compared to the previous year. Of this amount, exports accounted for USD 3.876 million and imports for USD 9.049 million.

Giorgi Kakauridze emphasized that the EU remains Georgia’s largest trading partner, accounting for 20.1% of the country’s total foreign trade turnover.

The Committees also focused on Georgia’s economic relations with the EU, opportunities to deepen trade and economic cooperation, and the prospects for the country’s economic development.

The reporter also discussed revenues from tourism, noting that 2.7345 thousand international visitors came to Georgia during the first half of the year.

As for remittances, this figure increased by 11% to USD 1.692 million.

According to Giorgi Kakauridze, consolidated budget revenues amounted to GEL 15.086 million during the reporting period, representing 104% of the planned figure. Tax revenues exceeded GEL 13.303 million, reaching 101.9% of the planned amount.

As the reporter said, revenues from grants exceeded GEL 170 million. Other revenues also exceeded the planned amount, reaching GEL 1.613 million. Revenues from privatization amounted to GEL 248 million, representing 134% of the planned figure.

As for revenues of the State Budget specifically, Giorgi Kakauridze explained that nearly GEL 12.515 million had been mobilized in total, which represents 103% of the planned figure. Tax revenues collected during the six-month period amounted to GEL 11.216 million, or 101.3% of the planned amount. According to him, other revenue categories also exceeded their planned targets.

According to Giorgi Kakauridze, the State Budget is planned at more than GEL 30.881 million, of which GEL 14.053 million had been utilized during the first half of the year.

The First Deputy Minister also spoke about the rates of budget utilization by state agencies, noting that the average utilization rate stands at 92%.

According to him, during the reporting period, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs utilized GEL 107.819 thousand, the Ministry of Culture utilized GEL 163.553 thousand, and the Ministry of Sports utilized GEL 168.605 thousand.

The discussion of the State Budget execution report continued in a question-and-answer format. Following the discussion, the committees took note of the six-month report on the execution of Georgia’s 2026 State Budget.