The volume of lending by commercial banks (including loans to non-residents) in March, 2011, compared to the previous month, increased by 118.1 million GEL (1.9 percent) and constituted 6.4 billion GEL by April 1, 2011. The volume of loans provided in the national currency increased by 68.8 million GEL (4.2 percent), while the volume of loans in a foreign currency increased by 49.4 million GEL (1.1 percent).

By the end of March 2011, commercial banks issued to resident legal entities 642.9 million GEL worth of national currency-denominated loans (5.1 percent or 31.4 million GEL more compared to previous month) and 3.0 billion GEL worth of loans in a foreign currency (2.9 percent or 85.6 million GEL more, respectively).

Out of the total volume of lending to legal entities, the biggest share falls on trade – 51.5 percent. Compared with the February 2011, in March the volume of loans provided for trade increased by 2.3 percent or 41.8 million GEL and constituted 1.9 billion GEL.

Share of loans provided to the industrial sector constituted 20.6 percent of all loans to legal entities and amounted to 756.0 million GEL by April 1, 2011 (0.5 percent or 3.9 million GEL more compared to the previous month). 10.6 percent fall on construction, amounting to 387.5 million GEL (4.4 percent or 16.3 million GEL more, respectively). Therefore, 82.7 percent of the total volume of lending to the legal entities falls only on three sectors – industry, construction and trade.

The volume of lending to resident individuals increased by 0.5 percent or 11.2 million GEL, during the March 2011, and constituted 2.4 billion GEL by April 1, 2011.



Current statistical information is published on the statistics page of the NBG’s website: www.nbg.gov.ge.