Within the framework of the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group held in Washington, NBG Governor Natia Turnava, together with Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili and members of the Georgian delegation, met with Jihad Azour, Director of the IMF Middle East and Central Asia Department.

During the meeting, the parties discussed Georgia’s fiscal and monetary policy, the current macroeconomic environment, and prospects for future cooperation with the IMF.

It was emphasized that Georgia’s macroeconomic fundamentals remain strong, and that the country’s external position has improved significantly in recent years. As of March 2026, annual inflation stood at 4.3%. Core inflation remained below the target level at approximately 2.4%, while services inflation was close to the target at 3.3%.

“These indicators, which better reflect long-term inflation dynamics, suggest that inflation expectations remain well anchored,” noted the Governor of the NBG.

The discussion also highlighted the NBG’s policy of accumulating international reserves. It was positively noted that in 2025, Georgia’s international reserves reached a historic high and, for the first time since 2022, exceeded the 100% adequacy threshold.

The parties also addressed the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, noting that its prolongation could affect existing forecasts.

For his part, Jihad Azour stated that despite heightened uncertainty in the region and the ongoing conflict, Georgia has been successfully managing external shocks and maintaining macroeconomic resilience.

The meeting was also attended by NBG Vice Governors Ekaterine Mikabadze, Ekaterine Galdava, and Nino Jeladze, as well as Deputy Ministers of Finance Giorgi Kakauridze and Ekaterine Guntsadze.