The meeting of the Economic Council was held under the leadership of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Irakli Gharibashvili. At the meeting held in the government administration, the positive trends in the economy in the country were reviewed.

Among the discussed issues were the low level of inflation and the dynamics of budget execution. As the Minister of Finance Lasha Khutsishvili noted, in July the annual inflation of consumer prices amounted to 0.3 percent, and according to the indicators of the 6 months of 2023, the budget was implemented with an excess.

The head of the government heard information about the progress of infrastructure projects in the regions.

As the Minister of Regional Development and Infrastructure Irakli Karseladze noted, the Ministry fulfilled the state budget for 6 months of 2023 with an excess of 13.5% - 1 331.1 million GEL.

The construction of 203 km of highways is underway, the opening of which is planned in stages in 2023-2024. Across the country, up to 1800 km of internal state and local roads are being rehabilitated. Water supply and drainage projects worth more than 3 billion GEL are underway in 167 locations. For the development of sports infrastructure, the construction of sports complexes and multi-purpose sports halls is underway in Akhaltsikhe, Zugdidi, Arkhiloskalo village, Bolnisi, Tsnori. The construction of the Rustavi sports complex is at the stage of completion. According to the Prime Minister's decision, within the framework of the construction-rehabilitation program of kindergartens, a contract has already been signed for the construction of 130 new kindergartens, and the announcement of tenders continues. At the meeting, they discussed the large-scale project of construction and rehabilitation of 800 schools worth 1 billion GEL, which was also started by the decision of the Prime Minister. In the first stage of the project, the process of building 80 new schools and rehabilitating 200 schools is underway. The next stage will start in 2024 and end by the end of 2026. The project ensures equal access to educational resources and improves it, and more than 230,000 students will benefit from its implementation.

According to the Prime Minister's decision, 8 tenders have been announced for the development of 11 locations selected in the first stage within the framework of the new 5-year program for the development of cities and resorts.

Among the discussed issues were the positive trends in the direction of tourism. As the Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Levan Davitashvili noted, the income received from travel in the I-II quarter of 2023 exceeded the figure of 2019 and a record figure was recorded - 1,804,529,935 USD, which is a 123.9% recovery of the same figure of 2019.

Compared to 2022, travel revenues have increased by 57.9%. In total, as of the I-II quarter of 2023, Georgia received 1.8 billion dollars in income from international travel.

Also, the possibilities of adding new air routes and increasing the intensity of flights with China were discussed. It was noted that increasing the intensity of flights with different countries and adding new air routes will contribute to the development of tourism and aviation sector in the country.

At the meeting, they discussed the progress of large economic projects and the steps to be taken in this direction in the future.

The information is distributed by the administration of the Government of Georgia.