The Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze promised the Government would boost the country’s economy from ₾90 billion ($33.09bln) to ₾130 billion ($47.80bln) and raise the budget from ₾28 billion ($10.30bln) to ₾40 billion ($14.71bln) over the next four years.

These are our promises. As for unemployment and poverty, currently, the poverty rate stands at 3.7 percent, which is half of what it was in 2012, although it remains high. We promise that by 2028, unemployment will drop below four percent, which will be an improvement over the European Union average”, - Kobakhidze said.

“The poverty rate, which was 30 percent in 2012, has now decreased to 11.8 percent. It is projected to drop to four percent within the next four years, meaning that over 300,000 citizens will rise above the poverty line.

“In 2012, 1,120,000 people lived below the poverty line under the previous Government; that number has now been dramatically reduced to 440,000. We anticipate that it will fall to a maximum of 150,000 in four years”, - Kobakhidze said.

Reflecting on the economic landscape in 2012, the Prime Minister pointed out the situation had been “dire”, with an economy “worth only ₾28 billion” and a budget of “just ₾8.5 billion ($3.13bln)”.

Kobakhidze added his Government had “already succeeded” in increasing the economy to ₾90 billion and the budget to ₾28 billion.