TBC’s Educational Opportunities for Students: Meet Ani Gogia
We often hear that every person writes their own personal life story. The faithful companion on this journey—the one that never leaves us as we pursue our goals with persistence—is education. Education is the key tool for self-discovery, for gaining confidence in our abilities, and sometimes, simply for believing in ourselves.
At TBC, this belief is at the heart of their mission. Through education, they actively support young people in creating their own stories. With this in mind, TBC has partnered with the educational foundation Visioner. Today, we introduce you to one student whose story is shaped by education and who continues to rewrite it with growing self-belief.
Ani Gogia is a medical student who belongs to the group of people that knew from an early age exactly where their career path should lead. Her story reminds us that sometimes, a quiet inner voice guides us to the right path from the very beginning—we just need to trust it.
“Although I was always interested in medicine, it was only during the final years of school that dentistry became my goal. On that journey, education became my most important guide. My childhood curiosity deepened through studying biology and chemistry at school, and later, university gave me the opportunity to gain practical experience.”
Naturally, the early stages of any career path are uncertain. At times, the further you move forward, the more unclear it may seem. Yet Ani’s story is a testament to the fact that education illuminates these steps better than anything else.
“Education is much more than professional development. It’s a force that pushes you to become a better version of yourself—to be more confident, determined, and fearless.”
For Ani, education is a constant reminder that even the impossible can be achieved. She values support on this journey as an essential priority. Believing in yourself, and in the idea that nothing is unattainable, has become a defining spirit of her educational path.
“On the road to education, I think it’s important to always remember: if you believe, everything is truly possible. Belief in the future gives you the strength to reach your goals.”
There are countless examples proving that success is within reach—as long as you believe in your goals. With its educational programs, TBC gives young people the opportunity to learn wherever they are, to broaden their knowledge, and to pursue their curiosity in search of new horizons.
TBC Business Awards 2025 Winner: Agrolab – Trust as Innovation
In 2019, when GITA and the World Bank announced a grant competition, Mariam Solomnishvili was faced with a question: what kind of innovative component could help her succeed?
That’s how Agrolab was born — a laboratory focused on the analysis of wine and alcoholic beverages. The innovation lay in its model: customers register on the lab’s website, create a personal online account, view their test results without leaving home, download certificates, request a courier, and even contact a manager directly.
Agrolab received the main prize at the TBC Business Awards for its contribution to regional development. The lab was founded by professionals with years of experience in winemaking.
“Kakheti is the cradle of Georgian wine. For any winery, laboratory analysis is essential. Demand for our service is part of the technological process — from checking the grapes to the moment of bottling the wine. From my own experience, I realized the region needed a modern, reliable laboratory,” explains Mariam Solomnishvili.
Almost everyone in Georgia knows how wine is made — or thinks they do. Vineyard cultivation, harvest, winemaking in qvevri — we consider all this part of Georgian wine culture. But when a product enters the market, tradition is no longer enough: standards, laboratory tests, and international regulations come into play. Agrolab and its founder have witnessed how people’s awareness and perceptions are changing.
“For decades, winemaking relied solely on personal experience. Technology and access to information have shattered many stereotypes, and we’ve learned to value our work differently. Today, even those who make wine for personal consumption are interested in laboratory testing. And it’s natural — people want their hard work to bring a quality result,” says Mariam.
Since January 1, 2023, every producer or distributor of alcoholic beverages, even those serving only the local market, has been required to hold a compliance certificate.
“Winning the TBC Award was both a surprise and a huge motivation for our team. When we applied, we had no particular expectations — we just wanted to try. The response to our victory proved once again how important and necessary our work is. Even small wineries reached out to us, saying they hadn’t known such a service existed in Kakheti,” Mariam recalls.
Agrolab is not only serving its existing clients but is also working to expand into new opportunities, including soil analysis.
“In reality, farmers often make spontaneous decisions — buying fertilizers or chemicals from stores that may not suit their land at all. Soil analysis allows for targeted use, which ultimately affects the final outcome,” explains Mariam.
The Agrolab team knows well that innovation isn’t just about modern equipment. Their mission is to create mechanisms that help others grow, too.
TBC Capital Publishes Macro Update: Local Products Drive Inflation, Lari Remains Weak Against Equilibrium Level
Annual inflation in Georgia rose to 4.3% in July, up by 0.3 percentage points compared to June and reaching its highest level since March 2023. However, seasonally adjusted and annualized monthly inflation declined significantly relative to June’s 7.3%, standing at 3.1% in July—just slightly above the target. Other analytical measures, including various estimates of core inflation, also point to reduced monthly inflationary pressure. Overall, since November 2024, seasonally adjusted monthly inflation has remained relatively high compared to earlier periods, which is a noteworthy factor. Still, inflation dynamics remain in line with TBC Capital’s forecasts. According to projections, inflation will continue to rise in the coming months before moderating slightly toward the end of the year due to base effects.
Service inflation—a key indicator for assessing inflation expectations and long-term trends, given its lower volatility and smaller share of imported components—stood at 3% in July. Service inflation has been one of the main drivers of overall inflation growth this year and is expected to rise further once the one-off effect of internet tariff adjustments fades. Importantly, moderate growth in service prices, even above the target level, does not necessarily indicate inflationary pressure, as in developing economies, rising productivity in non-tradable sectors is typically accompanied by higher prices. Alongside services, goods inflation has also increased, largely due to significant growth in food prices, which is expected to continue in the coming months under the influence of both global and domestic factors.
The recent acceleration in inflation has been driven primarily by rising prices of local and mixed products, while imported inflation remains negative. This dynamic differs from the 2021–2022 period, when imported goods were the main source of inflation.
Within local product inflation this year, the largest contribution has come from food—particularly bread, cheese, and meat—though prices of a wide range of goods have increased. Among mixed products, food items such as sunflower oil, potatoes, and chocolate, together with medicines, were the strongest contributors. On the imported side, coffee and cigarettes (partly due to excise tax increases) showed upward price trends, while fuel, electronics, and household goods declined, driving imported inflation into negative territory.
Grouping products by consumption horizon shows that in 2025, short-term consumer goods contributed almost nothing to imported inflation, despite accounting for more than half of imported volumes. By contrast, deflation was concentrated in medium- and long-term consumer goods. On the local side, services and short-term goods were the key drivers of inflation, while short-term goods also played a major role in mixed-product inflation. This asymmetry underscores once again the importance of long-term consumer goods in the current macroeconomic environment and confirms that inflation is increasingly driven by domestic factors.
Recent indicators also show that cashless spending on long-term consumer goods increased in early August, reversing the previous trend. Aggregate cashless spending has also improved, possibly signaling stronger economic activity in August. On the other hand, spending dynamics among non-residents and migrants remained broadly unchanged compared to previous months: non-resident spending continued to rise, while migrant spending slowed slightly.
As of the end of July, Georgia’s foreign exchange reserves reached $5 billion, an increase of 7.1% (or $331 million) compared to June. This growth aligns with TBC Capital’s expectations of accelerated NBG interventions in July. Early data suggest these interventions continued into the first week of August. Should inflationary pressures intensify further—which TBC Capital does not consider its baseline scenario—the existing FX surplus could support additional lari strengthening. This is particularly important given that, according to TBC Capital’s short- and long-term equilibrium models, the lari remains weaker than its equilibrium level. While the lari has appreciated slightly against the US dollar, amid global dollar depreciation, Georgia’s main trading partners’ currencies have strengthened even more. As a result, the lari’s real effective exchange rate has depreciated, which could pose risks of higher import prices.
At present, however, inflation dynamics are more closely tied to domestic demand and interest rates than to the exchange rate, since inflation is driven primarily by local rather than imported products. Nevertheless, it should be noted that domestically produced goods also incorporate a significant share of imported intermediate inputs. In this context, it is worth highlighting that at its 30 July meeting, the National Bank of Georgia maintained the key policy rate at 8%.
Finally, since the lari remains below its equilibrium level, the likelihood of appreciation increases independently of inflation dynamics. This is a key consideration within TBC Capital’s Lari–Euro–Dollar strategy, where focusing on medium- and long-term indicators offers the potential for meaningful gains.
Read the full publication here: TBC Capital Macro Update
Green Crops Distribution: From Local Greenhouse to Market Leader with TBC’s Support
A shortage doesn’t always mean a problem — sometimes it sparks inspiration. That’s exactly how the story of Green Crops Distribution began: at a time when lettuce was a scarce product on the Georgian market. Locally produced vegetables were rarely found in stores or restaurants, and consumers were left relying on imported goods. This reality led David Meparishvili to the idea of producing locally what everyone needed.
Green Crops Distribution LLC was officially founded in 2016, and by 2017 the company launched its first greenhouses in the village of Mukhrani, an ecologically clean environment. The very first harvest proved that the concept was right: the lettuce not only met the highest quality standards but also perfectly matched the needs of the local market. Very soon, the company began supplying restaurants and stores.
The next step was scaling up. To reach larger retail chains, the company needed specialized infrastructure: cold storage facilities, a packaging plant, new greenhouses, and distribution vehicles.
“At that stage, I turned to TBC and shared both our small-scale production and our big plans for the future. Soon after receiving a loan, we completed the construction of cold storage facilities and a new greenhouse. With TBC Leasing, we also acquired distribution vehicles. Then, under the brand Green Harvest, we began packaging our products and supplying retail chains. I can say with confidence that TBC has stood by us since the very beginning. We have big plans ahead, and of course, we will continue this growth together with TBC,” — says David Meparishvili.
By then, it was no longer just one company’s mission. Green Crops Distribution became a platform for local farmers. The company actively encouraged their involvement by providing training, sharing technologies, introducing new varieties, and explaining market requirements. This enabled farmers to successfully grow products themselves and become part of the supply chain. It was one of the first — and highly effective — steps toward replacing imported goods with locally produced alternatives.
The company’s core mission remains unchanged: to “Georgianize” new, rare, and exotic vegetables, make them accessible, and strengthen high-quality local production.
Registration Opens for Georgia’s Largest Women’s Entrepreneurship Expo, Supported by TBC
Registration is now open for UN Women’s Women’s Entrepreneurship EXPO 2025 in Georgia.
Organized by UN Women with the support of TBC, the exhibition will take place for the fourth time on September 13–14, from 10:00 to 19:00, at Expo Georgia. The event will showcase and sell products created by 200 women entrepreneurs from across Georgia, including displaced women from Ukraine.
Alongside the exhibition, TBC will host an interactive space for children, as well as green and food zones, making the event engaging for all visitors.
Participating women entrepreneurs will benefit from special trainings led by top company trainers, mentoring programs, and investment pitch preparation sessions. They will also connect with peers from 13 countries across Europe and Central Asia. Selected participants will have the opportunity to meet with investors in spring 2026, further promoting women’s entrepreneurship and enabling new partnerships.
Last year, the Expo brought together more than 160 women entrepreneurs and nearly 4,000 visitors, becoming a key platform for business networking and product promotion.
To participate, you must be a woman entrepreneur or the owner of a woman-founded business.
Application deadline: August 25
Register here.
Learn more.
The event is organized by UN Women in partnership with the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), the Georgian Farmers’ Association, and the private sector, including TBC Bank, Crystal Microbank, and the Business and Technology University.
The exhibition is part of the UN Women project “Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia”, under its women’s economic empowerment component, and is funded by the Government of Norway.
Venue: Expo Georgia, Pavilion XI, 118 Tsereteli Ave., Tbilisi
TBC – The Winner of the Google Cloud DORA Awards 2025
As Georgia’s leading fin-tech company, TBC aims to showcase to the global tech community how actively engaged Georgia is in the world’s evolving technology landscape.
The DORA Awards are Google Cloud’s most expansive, long-running research-based recognition program, assessing what truly fuels software delivery and operational performance.
TBC won in the “Loosely Coupled Teams” category—one of DORA’s most critical focus areas.
Winning this award means TBC creates high-performing teams that:
- Work independently, with clear ownership and responsibility
- Have minimal dependencies on other teams to deliver value
- Can deploy, test, and change code or infrastructure autonomously
- Collaborate effectively without being blocked by other departments or approvals
By recognizing this victory Google officially validates that our team structure, tech infrastructure, and software architecture are modern, agile, and aligned with DevOps best practices, enabling fast, efficient, and responsible delivery.
Bidzina Matsaberidze, CHIEF INFORMATION OFFICER:
“As the country’s largest fintech company, our goal is to use technology to craft simple, comfortable products and services for our users. That’s why we invest in both tech health and organizational design, to be faster and more effective. We want a clear, objective picture of how we stand as a fintech company, so we leverage globally recognized benchmarks, which is exactly why we chose Google’s DORA program.
Being singled out and winning among the many global participants means, on one hand, our tech team governs the company with a smart strategy, and on the other, the business uses tech to deliver the best user experience through simple, innovative services.”
Giga Shubitidze, SDLC Governance Lead: “This award affirms our strategic transformation over recent years and carries added significance through acknowledgment by a global technology leader such as Google
In simple terms: we’ve accelerated how quickly new features reach users by introducing product-aligned teams, minimizing inter-team dependencies, modernizing monolithic systems into microservices, automating infrastructure provisioning and CI/CD entirely, launching real-time monitoring and alert systems, and cultivating a strong DevOps culture grounded in the principle: ‘you build it, you run it.’
As a result, we shortened software delivery time from months to days and boosted deployment frequency by over 600%.
This win from Google is massive motivation for our tech team. We’ll continue our relentless evolution to deliver faster, more reliable, and innovative digital services to our users.”
Dreams Do Come True — TBC Rewards Customer with a 10,000 GEL Travel Budget
Dreams come true — all you need is to believe! The new TBC cardholder who won a 10,000 GEL travel voucher is Mariam Begiashvili.
Within TBC’s campaign “Spend Summer Your Way”, Mariam became the very first customer to win the chance to travel abroad. Soon, she will fulfill a long-cherished dream by setting off on an exotic trip with her loved one. Whether Asia or Africa, she has not yet decided — but one thing is certain: an unforgettable adventure lies ahead.
At first, Mariam was skeptical about joining the campaign and winning the 10,000 GEL travel budget. But her determination and the strong desire to explore her dream destination pushed her to create a step-by-step plan — and eventually, it brought her victory.
“Sometimes, the beauty of unbelievable stories lies in their simplicity. After receiving my new TBC card, I mapped out the shops near my home, made a list of essentials, and — according to the campaign rules — shopped in 10 different stores. I knew exactly what and where I needed to buy. Even though I was still doubtful during the process, I kept thinking: if I didn’t try, I’d never know the result. That’s how I ended up in this amazing story,” Mariam recalls.
To those who don’t yet have a new TBC Card, a TBC Concept Card, or a TBC Concept 360, Mariam strongly recommends seizing this unique opportunity and trying their luck in the travel voucher giveaway. There’s still time!
As part of the “Spend Summer Your Way” campaign, five customers who, between July 21 and August 24, receive a new TBC Card, TBC Concept Card, or Concept 360 via Mobile Banking and then complete the first 10 transactions of any amount at TBC terminals faster than anyone else, will each win a 10,000 GEL travel budget at a partner travel agency. Best of all, winners will plan their journey entirely on their own — deciding where, how, and with whom to go.
Spend Summer Your Way — plan your trip just the way you want. Get your card from Mobile Banking in just 30 seconds.
For more details and campaign terms, please visit the link.
Dreams do come true — just believe!
TBC Business Awards 2025: A Free Portrait of the Year’s Best Freelancer, Manana Arabuli
Talking with artist-designer Manana Arabuli is like swimming freely—her stories follow emotions rather than chronology. It may feel disorienting at first, yet at no point do you doubt that you are speaking with a professional passionately in love with her work.
This impression convinced the jury of the TBC Business Awards, who honored her with the 2025 Best Freelancer award.
“Energy has never been lacking for me, but this unexpected victory has made me even more energetic and focused. It also increased my sense of responsibility. TBC, for me, is a cultural platform that has supported this field for years and consistently produces high-quality projects. I think my trump card is quality. This award motivated me to show people what I’ve created,” says Manana Arabuli.
She has accomplished a lot—and has plenty of stories to tell. After graduating from the Tbilisi Academy of Arts, she tried her hand in almost every field (successfully): from ceramics to design, and even cinematography—working on Otar Iosseliani’s film Chantrapa.
Years ago, she founded the design studio and shop Black Dog. Through the special project Typography Rebirth, she was able to research 19th- and 20th-century Georgian fonts and, in effect, breathe new life into them. One of her most beloved projects across generations is the corporate identity for Fabrika.
“I have six hands; I can even do shamanism,” she jokes. “I think what makes my style stand out is that I’m an artist by profession.”
For the past ten years, she has worked entirely as a freelancer. Creative freedom is essential to her; she prefers companies to recognize her expertise and trust her taste. This approach comes with both advantages and challenges.
“When you’re a freelancer, your creative field is much wider. You’re not tied to anyone, and you’re not constantly fulfilling the desires of a single client. But you do have to work continuously; there’s no time or opportunity to relax, so you’re always mobilized like a soldier,” Manana explains.
Trust is paramount in client relationships. She declines projects if she isn’t genuinely interested in the content. Direct and principled, she recalls how she used to dislike decorativeness, listening to her heart more than her mind, drawn more to the process of work than the result.
“Progress and life exist only in motion. Naturally, mistakes happen along the way, but they give you experience and more skill. That’s what I would advise the new generation—this is the age of the internet, and you can learn so much more.”
