Georgian PM: Chinese FDI reaches $236M in first half of 2026

Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze said on Wednesday that foreign direct investment from China totaled $236 million in the first half of the year.

In his remarks, Kobakhidze noted that negotiations on free trade agreements with South Korea, Serbia and the Gulf Cooperation Council were in an active phase.

“Expanding our economic relations with China is of great importance. The free trade agreement has been expanded, and this is already yielding concrete, tangible results. These are not merely signed documents. During the first eight months of this year, from January to August, exports of Georgian products to China increased by 177%. The economic cooperation agreements we conclude produce concrete outcomes, and this figure is a clear illustration of that”, the Prime Minister said.

“The introduction of direct flights was also highly significant. There are now 14 flights per week between Georgia and China, which is of great importance to us, including from an economic perspective, as investment from China is rising. In the first half of this year, China took the top spot, with foreign direct investment from China totaling $236 million, placing it first in this regard. We have also been working very actively with Central Asia and have achieved significant, tangible results. Furthermore, negotiations on free trade agreements with South Korea, Serbia and the Gulf Cooperation Council are currently in an active phase”, he continued.

As the Government head noted, this process had given Georgia access to a market of 120 million people, which he described as strategically important.

“These trends enable us to replenish foreign currency reserves, reduce external debt and the current account deficit year by year, and, in general, maintain and ensure sound fiscal indicators. We owe thanks to our economic team for all of this, and I would like to extend special thanks to Economy Minister Mariam Kvrivishvili”, Kobakhidze concluded.