Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has emphasized the importance of accelerating Georgia’s economic development to match, and at some point exceed, the standards of European Union economies.
“Our ambition should be to catch up with and even surpass European countries in terms of economic performance,” Kaladze stated, pointing out that peace and political stability remain the cornerstones of the ruling Georgian Dream party’s development strategy.
Kaladze addressed the economic origins of emigration, arguing that better domestic conditions could reverse the outflow of workers. “We must create an environment where people leave Georgia only for vacations, not for jobs,” he said. “Every citizen should have access to decent employment and prosperity at home.”
While acknowledging recent improvements in Georgia’s economic indicators, Kaladze insisted that much more progress is needed. “Am I satisfied? Of course not. I’m a maximalist. I want real growth that reaches every family,” he said.
His comments come during contrasting views within the government on migration and EU visa liberalization. Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze argued that visa liberalization is more of a logistical convenience than an economic driver.
