With the support of the National Bank of Georgia (NBG), the Swift Payments Forum – Caucasus and Turkey was held in Tbilisi. The event was dedicated to advancing regional payment systems, improving cross-border payments, and strengthening financial interoperability.

During her address, Ekaterine Galdava, Vice-Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, spoke about the short-, medium-, and long-term priorities for the development of Georgia's payment systems and emphasized that the NBG's approach is consistent: first, to establish strong domestic infrastructure, and then to ensure the conditions necessary for cross-border connectivity.

According to the Vice-Governor, three key steps have been identified in this direction. The first is the modernization of domestic payment infrastructure. In May of this year, the NBG successfully launched new Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) and clearing systems based on the ISO 20022 international standard, creating a modern and resilient foundation for payments in Georgia. The second step is the implementation of an Instant Payment System (IPS), which is already at an advanced stage and will enable instant payments 24/7. The third area is regional cooperation, with ongoing dialogue with central banks and partners across the region on bringing standards and payment infrastructures closer together.

“Both the new RTGS and clearing systems and the Instant Payment System are based on the ISO 20022 standard. This means that we are developing infrastructure not only for domestic needs, but also with future interoperability in mind. The ultimate goal is straightforward: cross-border payments should become more transparent, predictable, and faster, which will contribute to growing economic ties with our trading partner countries,” said Ekaterine Galdava.

The NBG Vice-Governor emphasized that interoperability is not merely a technical issue and that, alongside central banks, commercial banks, payment service providers, fintech companies, and infrastructure providers should also be involved in the process.

Ekaterine Galdava also spoke about Georgia's role as a regional hub amid the development of the Middle Corridor, noting that financial infrastructure should develop alongside transport, trade, and logistics infrastructure.
The event, titled “Shaping the Future of Payments in the Caucasus and Turkey,” was attended by policymakers and representatives of central banks, the financial sector, and the international payments industry. Participants discussed the challenges arising from the fragmentation of the global financial system, ongoing developments in payment infrastructure, and opportunities for deepening regional partnerships.