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• Visa: Georgia ranks 1st in contactless payments penetration globally

  Tbilisi, Georgia, February 1, 2023– Georgia comes first in contactless payments penetration worldwide, the latest update of VisaNet data revealed.

  The updated ranking saw Georgia being followed by Australia and Hungary among more than 200 countries and territories, where Visa operates. Georgia has been confidently taking the leading position in utilizing fast and secure contactless payment methods in recent years, including card tapping or payments made by smartphones, watches and other gadgets. Almost ten out of ten transactions using Visa cards in Georgia have been contactless, according to VisaNet recent data.

  Visa as a world leader in digital payments, unremittingly continues driving innovative technologies in all the countries it covers through its fixed agenda to uplift everyone everywhere. Over many years, Visa has been cooperating with a number of financial institutions, merchants and governmental organizations in Georgia to shape the most up-to-date payment ecosystem and drive a cashless economy.

  “This impressive achievement of Georgia makes us extremely proud at Visa. Claiming the first place in contactless payments penetration worldwide manifests the readiness of Georgian Visa cardholders to make safe, fast, and convenient payments. I would like to congratulate our cardholders and partners on this success. It also solidifies our unwavering imperative of facilitating digital payment ecosystem development in Georgia. In one way, it shows the result of our years-long efforts, and in the other way, it motivates us to get on. Overall, Georgia’s preparedness to accept all the technological advancement Visa can proffer stands out a mile,” – Diana Kiguradze, Visa Country Manager for the Caucasus region said.

  About Visa

  Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.ge

• Visa Partners Business Federation “Women for Tomorrow” and Announces Business Contest within She’s Next, Empowered by Visa in Georgia

  Tbilisi, September 21, 2022 – Visa launches the third wave of She’s Next, Empowered by Visa in Georgia and in partnership with Business Federation Women for Tomorrow announces a public business contest for women entrepreneurs in Georgia. Women entrepreneurs are invited to share their business ideas in the competition for free mentoring sessions and money prizes, namely the first-place winner will be awarded with 25 000 Gel and the second-place winner with 15 000.  

  The contest is conducted in the form of Visa elevator pitch under the She’s Next, Empowered by Visa global initiative in Georgia designed for women, who have interesting business ideas or already run their own personal business, hold the position of a CEO or representative of a small or medium-size business, or be the founder of a startup company.[1]

  “I am proud, that Visa established the tradition in Georgia of continuing support of female SMBs within the global initiative She’s Next, Empowered by Visa. We are extremely happy to announce the third wave of the campaign and conduct the joint contest with w4t, aiming to empower women entrepreneurs in Georgia. Within the contest, we invite women, who lead startup, or have an interesting business idea, eager to learn pitching techniques for allocating solid money prizes. I strongly encourage each and every woman, aspiring to put down roots in the world of business,to take part in this promising initiative and become part of the She’s Next” - said Diana KiguradzeVisa Country Manager for the Caucasus region.

  „It is an honor for Women for Tomorrow to be part of the global initiative - She’s Next empowered By Visa since 2020 and support women entrepreneurs to boost their business knowledge and expertise and achieve economic independence. We are proud, to launch the business contest in partnership with Visa and announce the call, where only women start-upers and entrepreneurs are able to register, present their business idea, advance in pitching and presentation skills and compete for the financial support aiming to increase their progress and development. We encourage every woman from all over Georgia to participate in the program, make an opportunity to challenge yourself to become a winner Wish you the best of luck! – noted Nina Kobakhidze Chair of the Board of the Business Federation Women for Tomorrow.

  The competition will be held in three stages: 

  • Application process[2], an independent jury will first check if each application meets all eligibility criteria and will be followed by the selection of TOP 10 most successful and highly promising women entrepreneurs who will be granted to access free mentoring consulting sessions. 
  • Mentoring Sessions, the TOP 10 female SMEs will undertake two-day free consulting sessions, be assisted by the field experts to learn pitching techniques and create effective presentation to attract investments and develop their business. 
  • Visa Elevator Pitch Day and Award Ceremony, at the third and final stage of the competition, the TOP 10 candidates will be required to pitch a business idea (in the form of Elevator pitch) in 90 seconds in front of jury.  2 winners will be selected by a professional jury on the same day. The first-place winner  will be awarded with 25 000 Gel and the second-place winner with 15 000 Gel. 

   Interested candidates should carefully read rules of the contest and complete the application form, include a letter of motivation in Georgian and submitted by the  link it by 10 October 2022. 

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  Visa (NYSE: V) is a world leader in digital payments, facilitating payments transactions between consumers, merchants, financial institutions and government entities across more than 200 countries and territories. Our mission is to connect the world through the most innovative, convenient, reliable and secure payments network, enabling individuals, businesses and economies to thrive. We believe that economies that include everyone everywhere, uplift everyone everywhere and see access as foundational to the future of money movement. Learn more at Visa.com.ge

  
  

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  [1] The rules of the campaign are available on the link

  [2]  Only one application form and business idea per applicant will be accepted for the contest

• USAID and Public Defender’s Office Sign Intergovernmental Agreement

  On June 28, 2022, a Government-to-Government Agreement was signed between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Public Defender’s Office.

  The aim of the new partnership is to promote human rights in Georgia and to strengthen the activities of the Public Defender's Office, especially in the regions.

  In his opening remarks, Peter Wiebler, Mission Director of USAID/Georgia, briefly reviewed the Government-to-Government Agreement, cooperation and importance of Georgia's democratic development.

  The Ambassador of the United States of America spoke about progress in the direction of the protection of human rights in Georgia and underlined the activities of the Public Defender’s Office, great efforts that the staff of the Office make every day to establish equality and tolerance in the country; She also thanked representatives of the Office for their professionalism and dedication and said that the direct grant provided for by the USAID project was a sign of great confidence and support to the Public Defender's Office.

  Public Defender Nino Lomjaria thanked the US Government and the American people for the vital assistance they have been providing to independent Georgia in areas of economic development, implementation of democratic reforms, strengthening of state institutions and development of the private sector for decades.

  "Today we especially need such support, as the Government, the State and public institutions, each of us, must work tirelessly in these 6 months to get the status of an EU candidate country. These 6 months are a crucial period for our future.

  Until the end of my term of office, we, the entire Office, will be working to use this trust and support to monitor and support protection of human rights, democracy and human rights reforms in the country. However, I would also like to point out that the achievement of results under this agreement depends not only on our efforts. I think the willingness of other state agencies is also necessary and a lot depends on coordination and joint efforts in such a historic period," said the Public Defender.

  Giorgi Burjanadze, Deputy Public Defender, reviewed the details of the agreement between USAID and the Public Defender’s Office. According to the agreement, with the support of USAID, the Public Defender’s Office will work: 1) to strengthen internal capacities to conduct more effective monitoring of the protection of human rights in Georgia; 2) to strengthen internal management processes and institutional capacities; and 3) to improve strategic communication with the audience.

  "The project will help us make our Office more efficient in tackling the challenges we face. Protection of human rights is a constant process that needs constant upgrading," said Giorgi Burjanadze.

  Public Defender (Ombudsman) of Georgia

• USAID and Public Defender’s Office Sign Intergovernmental Agreement

  a Government-to-Government Agreement was signed between the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Public Defender’s Office.

  The aim of the new partnership is to promote human rights in Georgia and to strengthen the activities of the Public Defender's Office, especially in the regions.

  In his opening remarks, Peter Wiebler, Mission DirectorofUSAID/Georgia, briefly reviewed the Government-to-Government Agreement, cooperation and importance of Georgia's democratic development.

  The Ambassador of the United States of America spoke about progress in the direction of the protection of human rights in Georgia and underlined the activities of the Public Defender’s Office, great efforts that the staff of the Office make every day to establish equality and tolerance in the country; She also thanked representatives of the Office for their professionalism and dedication and said that the direct grant provided for by the USAID project was a sign of great confidence and support to the Public Defender's Office.

  Public Defender Nino Lomjaria thanked the US Government and the American people for the vital assistance they have been providing to independent Georgia in areas of economic development, implementation of democratic reforms, strengthening of state institutions and development of the private sector for decades.

  "Today we especially need such support, as the Government, the State and public institutions, each of us, must work tirelessly in these 6 months to get the status of an EU candidate country. These 6 months are a crucial period for our future.

  Until the end of my term of office, we, the entire Office, will be working to use this trust and support to monitor and support protection of human rights, democracy and human rights reforms in the country. However, I would also like to point out that the achievement of results under this agreement depends not only on our efforts. I think the willingness of other state agencies is also necessary and a lot depends on coordination and joint efforts in such a historic period," said the Public Defender.

  Giorgi Burjanadze, Deputy Public Defender, reviewed the details of the agreement between USAID and the Public Defender’s Office. According to the agreement, with the support of USAID, the Public Defender’s Office will work: 1) to strengthen internal capacities to conduct more effective monitoring of the protection of human rights in Georgia; 2) to strengthen internal management processes and institutional capacities; and 3) to improve strategic communication with the audience.

  "The project will help us make our Office more efficient in tackling the challenges we face. Protection of human rights is a constant process that needs constant upgrading," said Giorgi Burjanadze.

  Public Defender’s Office

   

• Ambassador K. Degnan spoke at the Renewable Energy Investment Conference

  Clean, reliable, and affordable domestic energy production is critical for
  Georgia to secure continued economic growth, meet its climate obligations, and
  protect its unique environment.
  The U.S. Government partners with Georgia to expand clean energy production.
  Today, Ambassador Degnan spoke at the Renewable Energy Investment
  Conference, organized by the USAID in partnership with the Ministry of Economy
  and Sustainable Development. Her comments underscored how investments in
  clean and renewable energy generation will help Georgian consumers increase
  access to sustainable and affordable energy, reduce reliance on imports from other
  countries, and meet Georgia’s climate goals.

  US Embassy Tbilisi

  The USAID Securing Georgia’s Energy Future Program