National Bank of Georgia Governor underscores microfinance regulatory reforms and sector scale at Microfinance Center annual conference

The National Bank of Georgia reported that Governor Natia Turnava participated in the 27th Annual International Conference of the Microfinance Center (MFC), opened the event with welcoming remarks, and set out how the central bank’s regulatory reforms have shaped Georgia’s microfinance market. Her message focused on the sector’s role in Georgia’s economic and social resilience and on the need for microfinance to support inclusive growth amid geopolitical risks, climate challenges, and digital transformation. Turnava pointed to reforms covering capital, liquidity, and risk management standards, stricter transparency in lending, and measures to prevent over-indebtedness. She described Georgia’s microfinance sector as diverse, well regulated, and technologically advanced, citing nearly 400 service points, more than 400,000 active borrowers, and total assets approaching GEL 2 billion, with a particular role in regions underserved by traditional banking infrastructure. The conference theme is “Shifts, Shocks and Solutions: Microfinance in the Shadow of Geopolitics,” and it brings together over 400 delegates from around 40 countries to discuss access to inclusive finance for micro and family businesses and vulnerable groups. The event also coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Georgian lari, with joint events planned by the MFC and the National Bank of Georgia.