The FINANCIAL — Last October’s general elections saw the peaceful and democratic transfer of power to a new government, for the first time in Georgia’s recent history. These elections also marked the start of a period of cohabitation between the new government, led by Prime Minister Ivanishvili, and President Saakashvili, who will leave office after the October 2013 presidential election.
Georgia’s economic performance continues to be strong, despite a recent slowdown. Real GDP growth averaged 6½ percent in 2011–12, about 1½ percentage points more than projected at the 2011 Article IV consultation. Inflation has declined steadily, reflecting lower food prices, lagged effects of exchange rate appreciation, and cuts in administered energy prices. The exchange rate has faced appreciation pressures, but has been kept stable against the U.S. dollar. However, the economy has slowed down markedly since mid-2012 and unemployment remains high at 15 percent, with half of the labor force in small-scale agriculture, according to the Inetrantional Monetary Fund.
Georgia’s current account deficit and external indebtedness remain high. Despite tourism receipts increasing to 9 percent of GDP and remittances to 4½ percent of GDP, the current account deficit has persisted at around 11½ percent of GDP from 2010 to 2012, one of the highest in the region. Georgia’s trade deficit rose to more than 25 percent of GDP, owing to increased imports of machinery, transport equipment, and manufactures. Georgia’s high current account deficits reflect low national savings relative to the investment needed to support high growth. The current account deficits have been financed by capital inflows. While initially these inflows were mainly foreign direct investments, in recent years their composition has shifted towards less stable sources of financing, including Eurobond issuance and increases in nonresident deposits (now 15 percent of total deposits). These inflows have contributed to keeping net external liabilities close to
100 percent of GDP, according to IMF.
Fiscal consolidation has continued, with the fiscal deficit declining from 6.6 percent of GDP in 2010 to 3.0 percent in 2012, reflecting higher tax revenues and lower current expenditures. The 2013 budget law aims at reducing the deficit to 2.8 percent of GDP in 2013, with greater emphasis on social expenditure, while maintaining critical capital spending. Although the economic slowdown meant revenues were lower than projected in the first quarter of 2013, the government’s overall balance was higher than expected due to procedural delays in government spending, according to IMF.
In response to the sharp decline in inflation and more recently to the economic slowdown, the National Bank of Georgia (NBG) has loosened its monetary stance. It cut its policy rate from 8 percent in mid-2011 to 4 percent in June 2013. While, at least until recently, commercial bank lari deposit rates have fallen more or less in line, lending rates have decreased less, suggesting some room for strengthening monetary policy transmission. The NBG has increased its foreign currency purchases, already buying US$335 million so far this year, which has helped resist appreciation pressures and the risk of further deflation. Despite looser monetary policy, private credit growth has declined from around 20 percent to 12–15 percent since October 2012, according to IMF.
Despite the slowdown, growth could still reach 4 percent in 2013, rising to around 6 percent in 2014 and beyond, while inflation would gradually realign with NBG’s medium-term target
(5 percent for 2015), provided the authorities take strong policy action, according to IMF.
Executive Directors noted that heightened domestic uncertainty, government underspending, and a difficult external environment have contributed to a marked economic slowdown. Against this background, Directors encouraged Georgia’s policymakers to recalibrate policies to revive economic activity, accelerate job creation, and promote lasting and equitable growth.
Directors noted that the financial system appears sound, with comfortable levels of capital and liquidity in banks. They supported steps underway to discourage foreign-currency lending and deposits, including those held by nonresidents, which pose risks to the system and undermine the effectiveness of monetary policy. Directors welcomed the authorities’ intention to participate again in the Financial Stability Assessment Program.
Directors considered that improved communication of economic policies would help reduce business uncertainty and stimulate private investment, according to IMF.
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