Georgian PM, Economic Council members discuss ongoing, future economic projects, wheat import, digital economy

Ongoing and future economic projects, wheat import, economic growth indicators and development of the digital economy in the country were discussed in a meeting of the Government’s Economic Council led by Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, the Government Administration said on Thursday.

The Administration said members of the Council discussed wheat import, noting recent heavy rainfall meant a “sizeable portion” of the harvest in the eastern Kakheti region could not satisfy food requirements, forcing farmers to sell wheat for livestock forage purposes.

The development led to the decision by authorities to restrict wheat imports until November to support the farmers, it also noted.

The meeting also highlighted growing economic indicators following the Government's “effective actions” taken at the beginning of this year, with the country's inflation rate standing at 0.6 percent and leading to expectations of lower than anticipated inflation for the rest of the year.

In the session, officials also reviewed the development of digital economy in Georgia, noting the authorities were aiming to turn the country into a regional digital hub and maximise its potential as a digital transit corridor connecting Asian and European countries.

The meeting also addressed the implementation of current and new infrastructure projects in the regions and preparations for the harvest season in the fall.