The Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia opened the 17th discussion of the 2025 Economic Forum. The discussion focused on the theme: "Regional Policy and Economic Growth / The Role of Government".

As Shalva Papuashvili noted, for the Georgian government, economic development is a matter of national interest. For this reason, full attention is directed towards ensuring that businesses have greater opportunities for growth: "In this regard, the policy of peace pursued by the Georgian government - particularly against the backdrop of the challenges of the past 3 years - has enabled us to maintain the highest rate of economic growth on the continent. By continuing this policy and providing an environment of economic freedom, we are confident that the country will continue to demonstrate strong performance in the future".

The panel discussion included participation from Soso Pkhakadze, President of the Business Association of Georgia/Wissol Group, Giorgi Khubua, Rector of Kutaisi International University. Event was moderated by Giorgi Abashishvili, Founder/Head of Georgian Economic Forum and Business Insider Georgia.

According to Giorgi Abashishvili, the first high-level discussion of the year successfully brought together representatives of government, business, academia, and the analytical sector: "I would like to express special thanks to the Speaker of Parliament, who shared detailed insights into the government`s vision regarding the economy and its engagement with the business sector. Throughout the event, it became clear once again that the Georgian government remains committed to maintaining an open dialogue with businesses".

Soso Pkhakadze, President of the Business Association of Georgia and Wissol Group, emphasized that a strong economy is the cornerstone of a country`s success: "To quote the Speaker of Parliament: economic development is a national interest. In this regard, the interests of the government and business are aligned. We have a very strong and constructive partnership with both the government and Parliament".

Giorgi Khubua, Rector of Kutaisi International University, underlined the role of higher education in national development: "Our educational programmes are designed not only to respond to the needs and challenges of a free labour market but also to ensure active engagement of employers in the learning process. It is essential that both the curricula and the teaching methodologies reflect the expectations of the business sector".

The discussion, held within the framework of the Economic Forum, brought together representatives of both the legislative and executive branches, alongside business leaders, academics, and policy analysts.