Finance, Investment, and Accounting in Georgia
The Banking Sector
The Georgian banking system is regulated by the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), whose primary objective is price stability. There are currently 17 licensed commercial banks in Georgia, complemented by credit institutions and branches or subsidiaries of foreign banks. The minimum capital to establish a bank is 50 million GEL, fully paid in cash. The three main sectors financed by bank credit are trade, industry, and construction.
A Developing Capital Market
The Georgian Stock Exchange (GSE), the country's sole organised market, is located in Tbilisi. As of 29 February 2024, 40 securities were listed (categories A, B, and admitted to trading), with total market capitalisation of 5.2 billion GEL. The domestic corporate bond market crossed the historic threshold of 3.2 billion GEL at the start of 2026, reflecting the development of capital markets.
Accounting and Audit Obligations
Accounting and financial reporting are governed primarily by the Accounting and Reporting Act and the Entrepreneurs Act, as well as International Accounting Standards (IAS/IFRS).
Books must be kept in the Georgian language and in Georgian lari. Accounting documents must be retained for 6 years. The standard tax year corresponds to the calendar year.
Mandatory audit: Category 1 and 2 entities (and corresponding groups) are required to have their financial statements audited. Categories 3 and 4 are exempt.
| Category | Criteria (at least 2 out of 3) |
|---|---|
| 1st category | Total assets > 50M GEL, Turnover > 100M GEL, Staff > 250 |
| 2nd category | Total assets ≤ 50M GEL, Turnover ≤ 100M GEL, Staff ≤ 250 |
| 3rd category | Total assets ≤ 10M GEL, Turnover ≤ 20M GEL, Staff ≤ 50 |
| 4th category | Total assets ≤ 1M GEL, Turnover ≤ 2M GEL, Staff ≤ 10 |
Approximately 269 local and international audit firms are registered in Georgia, of which 15 are authorised to audit public interest entities (PIEs). The Big Four international firms are represented there.
Exchange Rate Policy
The National Bank of Georgia applies a floating exchange rate regime. It does not target a fixed exchange rate level but may intervene in the market to limit excessive fluctuations. In 2025, the average GEL/EUR rate was approximately 2.84. Foreign exchange hedging instruments (swaps, forwards, futures, options) are developing in the interbank market.
There are no restrictions on importing or exporting the national currency. Visitors must declare foreign currencies exceeding 30,000 GEL upon entry into the territory.
Investment Opportunities
Georgia is positioned at the crossroads of Europe and Central Asia, on one of the shortest transit corridors between Western Europe and Central Asia for oil, gas, and dry goods. Priority sectors identified by Enterprise Georgia include:
- Tourism and hospitality (17 new hotels opened in 2025, more than 300 expected by 2028)
- Information technology and BPO
- Renewable energy (solar, hydropower)
- Logistics and transport
- Real estate and construction
In 2025, FDI received stood at approximately USD 2 billion, with a sectoral breakdown dominated by trade (15.6%), real estate (10.2%), construction (7.9%), finance (5.2%), and IT (5.9%). Total FDI amounts for the 2021–2024 period reached USD 6.7 billion, primarily from the United Kingdom and the Netherlands.