During the "Tbilisi Finance Summit 2026," Vice Governor of the National Bank of Georgia, Nino Jeladze, participated in the panel discussion titled "Payments Without Borders: Advancing Financial Services across the Region".   Panel participants discussed the development of payment infrastructure, the enhancement of cross-border financial services, and opportunities for connecting financial markets in the region.  

According to Nino Jeladze, fostering financial innovation, modernizing payment systems, and ensuring their interoperability are key priorities for the National Bank of Georgia. The Vice Governor highlighted the steps taken by the central bank to develop payment infrastructure, including the modernization of the Real-Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system and the ongoing development of an instant payment system.

"The development of innovations must be based on a clear and predictable regulatory framework that ensures the protection of consumer interests and the stability of the financial system," noted Nino Jeladze.

Nino Jeladze also addressed the importance of regional cooperation in cross-border payments. She stated that growing trade and economic ties along the Middle Corridor create the need for faster, more efficient, and accessible financial services. In this process, cooperation between central banks, alongside the alignment of technical standards and regulatory approaches, is crucial.

The Vice Governor also emphasized the potential of digital assets and stablecoins, which have the capability to accelerate cross-border settlements and reduce transaction costs. However, she added that their development requires an appropriate regulatory framework, transparency, and consumer protection.

"Georgia has the opportunity to leverage its strategic location, regional partnerships, and modern financial infrastructure to play a significant role in connecting financial markets along the Middle Corridor. Our goal is to create an environment where fintech companies have the necessary infrastructure, and international investors and financial institutions have confidence in a transparent, secure, and predictable regulatory framework," stated Nino Jeladze.

She further noted that close cooperation with the private sector is essential for developing financial innovations, which will help enhance competition, increase access to financial services, and deepen regional financial ties.

Joining Nino Jeladze on the panel were Leiming Chen, Senior Vice President & Chief Sustainability Officer at Ant International, and Tamar Tkeshelashvili, Independent Member of the Supervisory Board at Neo Georgian Bank. The discussion was moderated by Pat Patel, Chief Executive Officer for USA, LATAM, Middle East & Africa, and Co-CEO of GFTN Connections at the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN).   The "Tbilisi Finance Summit" is co-organized by the National Bank of Georgia, the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and the Global Finance & Technology Network (GFTN). It serves as a major international platform for dialogue on financial technologies, innovations, and regional cooperation.