Georgian PM at Paris Peace Forum: Georgia one of world’s fastest-growing economies along with Armenia

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili on Friday told a panel discussion at the Paris Peace Forum Georgia was “one of the fastest-growing economies in the world” along with Armenia.

In comments at the discussion around security challenges and stability in the South Caucasus region, Garibashvili said the country’s economic performance had “tripled” while the gross domestic product in United States dollars had “doubled”. 

We are one of the fastest-growing economies in the world, along with Armenia. This is not accidental. We create good policies, good governance, provide rapid economic growth for our people, which brings employment opportunities, stability, predictability for business [and] foreign direct investment was a record last year”, Garibashvili said.

He also highlighted “impressive” reforms implemented over the past 10 years, along with signings of the Association Agreement with the European Union and the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement with the bloc in 2014. 

The PM told the panel 2022 had been a “historic” year for Georgia as the country received a European perspective from the European Council, while also noting “another historic decision” made by the European Commission this week with its recommendation to the Council to grant the country the EU membership candidate status.

This is a historic achievement. The population of Georgia [and] the ruling party, made a concrete decision that we should get closer to Europe and become full members of the European Union, and we are moving in this direction consistently, step by step”, he said.

Garibashvili was involved in the discussion with his Armenian counterpart Nikol Pashinyan.