Giorgi Edilashvili, Head of the International Relations Department at the National Bank of Georgia, participated in the international conference “Challenges from High Uncertainty” held in Switzerland.

The 13th annual conference on economic affairs was organized with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) as part of the Bilateral Assistance and Capacity Building Program for Central Banks (BCC).

The conference brought together leading experts from international financial institutions, representatives of the U.S. Federal Reserve System, central banks, and the academic community.

The main theme of the conference focused on the unprecedented economic shocks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and regional conflicts, which have resulted in significant disruptions and shifts in global supply chains. It was noted that, in addition to rising macroeconomic uncertainty, policy unpredictability has also increased substantially. The program included high-level discussions on the development of the macroeconomic environment, potential deepening of trade and financial fragmentation, and strategic opportunities for developing economies.

Giorgi Edilashvili participated in a discussion panel titled “Trade and Financial Fragmentation.” The panel also included representatives from the Federal Reserve, central banks of Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and other countries, as well as international experts. Discussions focused on the growing fragmentation of international trade and financial links and its potential long-term impact on global and regional economies.

 

During the panel, Mr. Edilashvili addressed the underlying causes of international trade and financial fragmentation, its long-term prospects and expected consequences, as well as the National Bank of Georgia’s regional cooperation initiatives aimed at developing financial services and fostering innovation in the middle corridor region.