Natia Turnava, Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, participated in the 27th Annual International Conference organized by the Microfinance Center (MFC), with the support of the National Bank of Georgia.

The event was inaugurated with a welcoming address by Governor Turnava, who expressed her gratitude to the Microfinance Center for selecting Georgia as the host country for this significant international gathering.

In her remarks, Turnava highlighted the crucial role the microfinance sector has played in fostering Georgia’s economic and social resilience over the past two decades. She credited the National Bank of Georgia’s regulatory reforms including capital, liquidity, and risk management standards, stricter transparency in lending, and measures to prevent over-indebtedness for establishing a flexible and responsible financial model in the country.

“Today, Georgia’s microfinance sector is diverse, well-regulated, and technologically advanced,” she noted. “With nearly 400 service points nationwide, over 400,000 active borrowers, and total assets approaching 2 billion GEL, the sector serves as a vital financial provider particularly in regions underserved by traditional banking infrastructure. Microfinance institutions in Georgia are not merely lenders to micro and small enterprises, but also partners in economic inclusion and financial education. Their flexibility, tailored local services, and strong sense of social responsibility form the foundation of their sustainable operations.”

Turnava also emphasized that in a rapidly evolving global landscape shaped by geopolitical risks, climate challenges, and digital transformation, the microfinance sector must not only demonstrate resilience but also lead in driving inclusive and adaptive growth.

The theme of the 27th Annual MFC International Conference is: "Shifts, Shocks and Solutions: Microfinance in the Shadow of Geopolitics." This event is the largest inclusive finance conference in Europe and Central Asia, gathering over 400 delegates from approximately 40 countries, including representatives from financial institutions, investment funds, regulatory bodies, policymakers, and innovative social finance organizations.

The conference focuses on expanding access to inclusive finance amidst geopolitical and environmental challenges, with particular attention to micro and family businesses, as well as vulnerable groups such as women, youth, migrants, and rural communities.

This year’s conference also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Georgian Lari (GEL). In collaboration with the National Bank of Georgia, the MFC has planned joint events to celebrate this milestone and foster deeper international dialogue and cooperation.

The Microfinance Center (MFC) is a regional network of 140 member organizations across 36 countries in Europe and Central Asia, serving more than 2 million low-income clients. The MFC promotes responsible, inclusive, and sustainable finance through advocacy, capacity building, digital innovation, green finance, and ESG initiatives.