Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, appeared as a keynote speaker at a high-level international symposium in Shanghai, organized by the People's Bank of China (PBOC) and the Bank for International Settlements (BIS). The symposium was titled Navigating Global Financial Uncertainty: Current Developments in Financial Markets, Investment Strategies, and the International Monetary System".

The symposium was attended by governors and senior representatives of around 30 central banks and monetary authorities from around the world, including representatives from the central banks of France, Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom,  Singapore, Hong Kong, Brazil, Argentina, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar.

This large-scale international event serves as a high-level platform where representatives of central banks, international financial institutions, and the private sector discuss global macroeconomic and financial developments, modern reserve management strategies, prospects for the development of the international monetary system, and current and long-term trends in financial markets.

During the symposium's first session, "Global Macroeconomic and Financial Market Developments," Natia Turnava reviewed structural changes in global financial markets, the impact of geopolitical processes on investment decisions, and modern challenges in central bank reserve management.

In her speech, the Governor of the National Bank of Georgia noted that the global investment environment has become increasingly complex as geopolitical tensions, trade fragmentation, and macroeconomic uncertainties continue to rise.

"The prolonged trade tensions and military conflicts in the Middle East and Europe, as well as global supply chain disruptions, have become significant sources of market volatility and investment risks. Today, persistent geopolitical developments are increasingly becoming economic variables rather than external risks, which directly influence inflation, capital flows, exchange rates, and investment strategies," stated Natia Turnava.

The NBG Governor paid special attention to the management of foreign exchange reserves, noting that in the face of growing geopolitical risks, safety has become the top priority for reserve management. She assessed that the attractiveness of gold has increased, as reserve managers seek assets that are less exposed to sovereign and geopolitical risks.

She added that the trend of reserve portfolio diversification is evident globally. There is also a noticeable increase in the attractiveness of Asian capital markets.

"For central banks, reserve management is guided by three fundamental principles: safety, liquidity, and profitability. While all of these objectives remain important, the relative importance of safety has increased significantly in recent years. This is why many central banks are seeking to enhance portfolio resilience and greater diversification across reserve currencies and asset classes," noted Natia Turnava.

The NBG Governor also highlighted that investments in gold have significantly and positively contributed to the return on Georgia's international reserves. She further explained that the National Bank of Georgia implements geographic and currency diversification of markets for reserve placement, and in this context, alongside traditional markets, Asian markets and currencies are attracting growing interest.

According to Natia Turnava, in such an environment, disciplined risk management, consistency, and flexibility may be among the most important drivers of long-term investment success.