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Georgia’s strategic importance as a logistics gateway between Europe and Asia was emphasised by Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Genadi Arveladze on Friday during a panel discussion at the 23rd ministerial session of the Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation Programme in Astana, Kazakhstan.
The potential of the Middle Corridor as a reliable transportation route linking the two continents was also highlighted by Arveladze. According to him, the private sector’s interest in logistics projects was increasing, against the backdrop of the growing popularity of the Corridor, and Georgia’s integration into regional and international transport networks would be “greatly enhanced” by the trend.
Ongoing strategic initiatives aimed at modernising the country’s logistics framework, including the development of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway, the East-West highway, and the Anaklia deep sea port project, were also outlined. According to Arveladze, the Government showed its commitment to positioning Georgia as a key player in regional logistics by the adoption of a comprehensive logistics and demonstration of transport strategy.
The importance of enhancing cooperation among CAREC countries to facilitate smooth cross-border transportation along the Middle Corridor was stressed by the Deputy Minister. According to him, digital technologies should be used to streamline transport operations.
It’s possible to expand Georgia’s transport routes, facilitate the trade and foster sustainable economic development within the CAREC region and beyond due to coordinated policies and actions among Corridor countries. Aveladze has also noticed that the Government’s priority was to enhance port infrastructure on the Black Sea and to increase ferry traffic to neighbouring ports. He attributed an uplift in cargo turnover (a 21 percent increase in the first nine months of 2024 compared to the same period last year) to more frequent ferry connections with Romania and Bulgaria.
High-ranking officials from member countries, along with leaders from international organisations such as the Asian Development Bank, the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organisation met during the CAREC ministerial session.
Identifying strategic goals and measures for addressing climate change in the region were in the focuse of the main theme of the session.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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As Georgian Deputy Economy Minister Irakli Nadareishvili told the seventh Hongqiao International Economic Forum in China on Wednesday, the Government’s economic policy should prioritize traditional sectors’ transformation of the Georgian economy through artificial intelligence.
Nadareishvili highlighted during his speech at the Forum that the use of artificial intelligence was in the process of industrialisation, and Georgia was commited to foster innovation and technological development as part of its broader strategy for sustainable economic growth.
According to the official, significant progress had been made by the Government in modernising its economic sectors. Georgia was positioned as a “regional hub” for technology and IT companies, with over 150 companies now operating in the country.
These businesses employ more than 10,000 local and foreign specialists, which has dramatically altered the country’s export structure. Nadareishvili said that IT services exports reached an unprecedented figure for Georgia of $900 million in 2023.
The Government’s strategy for AI and its integration into various sectors of the economy was emphasised by the Deputy Minister. He also highlighted that it was important to maintain competitiveness in an increasingly digital world and added that “more than just the right infrastructure and business-friendly tax laws” were required.
Efforts of the Government and Georgia’s Innovation and Technology Agency in creating a “developed innovative startup ecosystem”, which had been supported by the establishment of and the launch of nine technology parks across the country, were also noted by Nadareishvili.
He told the forum that the implementation of the largest and most ambitious project – Kutaisi technology hub [in the country’s west], combining an interactive science and technology museum, a startup accelerator, an international IT school, various innovative laboratories, and, most importantly, a cutting-edge data centre focused on advancing AI research and implementation, was started this year.
As he pointed out, implementing artificial intelligence across healthcare, education, agriculture, biotechnology, public services, and ultimately, in business and the economy would be the main focus of the works at the Kutaisi technology hub.
Around 40 companies showcasing their products and services across three distinct pavilions were included in the Georgian delegation, supported by Enterprise Georgia, the state agency promoting entrepreneurship, investment and exports.
NH Logistics GEO has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Georgia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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According to the central bank, NBS, Serbia’s current account deficit widened to 2.46 billion euro ($2.66 billion) in the first eight months of the year from 664 million euro in the prior-year period.
Figures posted on the NBS website earlier this month show that the deficit in trade of goods rose by an annual 20% to 4.9 billion euro in January-August, while the surplus in trade of services fell down by 17% to 1.6 billion euro.
The increase of the gap in primary income attained 11% on the year and finally reached 2.69 billion euro in the first eight month of 2024, while the downfall of the surplus in secondary income equaled to 10% (3.57 billion euro).
Serbia’s current account gap fell from 556 million euro (August 2023) to 64 million euro (August 2024).
An improved energy balance and robust growth in manufacturing and services exports narrowed the country’s current account deficit to 1.81 billion euro in 2023 from 4.16 billion euro in 2022. Last year’s deficit equaled to 2.6% of GDP.
According to NBS governor Jorgovanka Tabakovic, the current account deficit will be trending at around 4–5% of GDP, sufficient to ensure the country’s external sustainability, this year and in the medium term, due to the anticipated pick-up in the investment cycle and the associated import of equipment and intermediate goods.
NH Logistics SER has been offering IOR Importer of Record and EOR Exporter of Record services since 2001 and is a market leader in Serbia and Eurasia, supporting many clients with their import/export shipments.

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