Prime Minister Irakli Gharibashvili Presents the 2023 Government Report
By Liza Mchedlidze
Tuesday, December 19, 2023
The Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili, presented the 2023 report on the government's work. In his speech, Gharibashvili highlighted the achievements of the Georgian Dream government since 2012. He mentioned that in that year, the foundation was laid for the real Europeanization and democratization of Georgia.
According to Gharibashvili, after Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream party assumed governance, the government aimed to strengthen the sovereignty of the country. He emphasized that their government has achieved significant results on the path of European integration.
"In 2012, the foundation was laid for the genuine Europeanization and democratization of our country. After Bidzina Ivanishvili and the Georgian Dream took over the reins of our country's governance, our government set out on the path of strengthening the sovereignty of our nation. I have stated many times before that if any government has achieved a very specific result on the path of our country's European integration, it is the 'Georgian Dream.' Starting with the signing of the Association Agreement, establishing free trade, and implementing the visa-free regime, the main priority of our declared foreign policy was reflected even in the constitution. This effort culminated with the recognition of the European perspective last year, and obtaining the candidate status this year was a kind of crowning achievement," Gharibashvili said.
In his discussion of the government's achievements, Prime Minister Garibashvili addressed regional challenges, particularly the war in Ukraine. He expressed uncertainty about its outcome and potential impact on global security, comparing it to Georgia's experience in the 2008 war. Garibashvili asserted that had the Georgian Dream been in power in 2008, the war might have been prevented.
Highlighting war as the gravest danger, Garibashvili credited the current government for successfully avoiding it and guiding the country to peace. He accused radical groups and hostile forces of attempting to involve Georgia in the conflict.
The PM also addressed the sanctions imposed against Russia, stating that the country has identified about 1,000 cases of sanctions evasion. As Gharibashvili explained, not a single instance of Georgia being used to evade sanctions was recorded.
"Regarding sanctions circumvention, no instances of evasion have been observed to date, and our country has not been used to evade sanctions. We have worked and will continue to work as openly and transparently as possible. Every decision we make is based on the national interests of our country and its people, ensuring that the economy of our regions is not compromised. Simultaneously, we have acted with the utmost care to avoid any questions arising from our partner countries. We have successfully identified and addressed all such threats in a timely manner. While up to 1000 cases of sanctions evasion were identified, they were related to products sent from Europe to Russia. We promptly informed our European colleagues about these attempts," he stated.
Garibashvili underscored the notable economic advancements achieved under the Georgian Dream government, drawing comparisons between key indicators from 2012 to the present. He emphasized a threefold increase in GDP, soaring from GEL 27 billion to GEL 80 billion. Additionally, the state budget nearly tripled, reaching GEL 28.7 billion in 2024. Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has shown consistent growth, averaging USD 1.5 billion annually, a significant uptick from the USD 950 million recorded during 2003-2012. Furthermore, exports surged by 135%, totaling around USD 5.6 billion in 2022.
Garibashvili discussed various macroeconomic aspects, emphasizing successful growth across sectors, and claimed that Georgia holds a leading position in macroeconomic parameters among EU member states and candidate countries. He detailed improvements in agriculture, wine industry, subsidies, business, tourism, aviation, infrastructure, information technologies, start-ups, ports, transportation, railway system, roads, urban spaces, education, salaries, and healthcare, drawing comparisons between 2012 and the present.
Gharibashvili highlighted the substantial increase in the defense budget, rising from GEL 645 million in 2012 to GEL 1.38 billion for the upcoming year. Garibashvili also addressed the significance of Youth Army Camps, emphasizing their role in fostering patriotism and providing an alternative to what he described as a "poisonous pseudo-liberal ideology" and unhealthy lifestyles. He reiterated Georgia's European aspirations, emphasizing the need for continuous reforms to solidify the country's status as a European state and expressed the ultimate goal of de-occupation and national unification.
