Georgian PM highlights “peace”, “correct policy” as reason for “high economic growth”, “positive dynamics”
Garibashvili said the growth numbers were “very encouraging, very good and very positive” against the background of the “very difficult geopolitical situation”. Photo: PM's press office
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Monday claimed the current “period of peace” for the country under his Government and its “correct policy” were to be credited with the “exemplary” domestic economic growth of 7.3 percent between January-April and the international tourism revenue exceeding 100 percent in the first quarter of the year.
Garibashvili was cited by the Government Administration as saying the growth numbers were “very encouraging, very good and very positive” against the background of the “very difficult geopolitical situation”.
In April, the volume of exports increased by 20 percent [...] growth is recorded in the construction sector, financial, insurance activities, transport, storage, information, communication sectors. In general, we have a very positive dynamic as a whole, and of course this needs to be maintained”, he said.
The PM also mentioned turnover in the business sector that increased by 15 percent in the first quarter, and the 1.5 percent inflation figure, which he called “quite good”.
Garibashvili contrasted the figure with inflation rates in Lithuania (15%), Poland (14.7%), Czechia (12.7%), Bulgaria (12%) and Romania (11%).
The steps taken by us, which were related to the reduction of medicine prices, reduction of fuel prices, reduction of food prices - all this was reflected in the common basket”, the Government head said.
He also highlighted jobs created in the first quarter, as well as the “historic low” figures of unemployment and poverty.
The PM said 42,000 more jobs had been created in the first quarter, taking the employment number to 716,000, and contrasted the figure of 100,000 people below the poverty line in 2012, the year the Georgian Dream party took power, before pointing out the Government had since cut the number “in half”.
“By comparison, the unemployment rate in 2010 was 27 percent, and now it is at 17 percent - a huge improvement in 10 years. The poverty rate was, if I'm not mistaken, at 37-38 percent in 2010, 2011, 2012, while now it stands at 15.6 percent”, he said.