Within the framework of the Tbilisi Finance Summit, the Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, Natia Turnava, participated in panel discussions addressing key macroeconomic and geopolitical topics.

During the panel titled “Macroeconomic and Geopolitical Dialogue: Future Perspectives,” participants discussed the region’s macroeconomic outlook, the impact of geopolitical developments on finance and technology, and the growing significance of new financial corridors.

Alongside Natia Turnava, the panel featured Martin Galstyan, Governor of the Central Bank of Armenia; Didier Trebucq, UN Resident Coordinator in Georgia; and Vitaliy Tutushkin, Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Kazakhstan.

The discussion underscored the importance of regional cooperation and Georgia’s strategic role within the Middle Corridor.

Governor Turnava emphasized that the financial industry is becoming increasingly integrated into the regional economy an especially crucial process amid global fragmentation trends. She highlighted Georgia’s active contribution to strengthening regional financial linkages and fostering innovation.

“As today’s global landscape is marked by significant fragmentation and uncertainty, regional cooperation has become an imperative. Closer collaboration among our countries is vital for enhancing the resilience and competitiveness of our entire region. We are witnessing the regional expansion of Georgian banks, as well as reciprocal interest from financial institutions and investors in Kazakhstan, Singapore, China, and Europe, who have shown growing interest in establishing or expanding their presence in Georgia,” - noted Natia Turnava.

In the second panel discussion, titled “Government Leaders’ Dialogue: The Next Global Innovation Cycle in Financial Services and Payments,” Ms. Turnava was joined by Taleh Kazimov, Governor of the Central Bank of Azerbaijan, and Linardo Martinčević, Advisor to the Governor’s Office of the Croatian National Bank.

Participants discussed the development of an independent and interoperable payment infrastructure across the Middle Corridor, focusing on enabling real-time settlements and ensuring the seamless flow of regional capital.

Ms. Turnava highlighted the importance of adopting strategic technologies to implement next-generation payment systems, including artificial intelligence, tokenization, and quantum technologies.

“Through our joint efforts, we are shaping a new era in which Georgia stands at the epicenter of financial innovation. At the National Bank of Georgia, we are working actively to ensure we remain aligned with global advancements. Regulatory frameworks for virtual assets and digital banks, cross-border payment systems, and open banking are among the core initiatives we are focusing on. These projects are preparing our financial system for the future,” - stated Natia Turnava.

Both panel discussions were moderated by Sopnendu Mohanty, Chief Executive Officer of the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN).

The Tbilisi Finance Summit, held within the framework of the Tbilisi Silk Road Forum, brought together representatives from more than 50 countries and over 1,000 delegates.