Global economic growth will slow down - head of the IMF
A resilient world economy is being tested again by the now-paused war in the Middle East. The conflict has caused considerable hardship around the globe. My heart goes out to all people affected by this war and all wars.
When we welcome ministers and central bank governors to our Spring Meetings next week, our focus will be on how best to weather this latest shock and ease the pain on economies and people.
This requires understanding the nature of the shock, the channels through which it affects the economy, the size of the impact, and the policies that can mitigate it.
So what hit us? A supply shock that is:
Large, with the world's daily oil flow cut by some 13 percent, and its LNG flow by some 20 percent;
Global, with all of us now paying more for energy and with supply chains disrupted across the world;
And asymmetric, with its impact depending on proximity to the conflict, whether you are an energy exporter or importer, and your political space.
As always, a negative supply shock pushes prices up. As a point of reference, Brent jumped from $72 per barrel on the eve of hostilities to a peak of $120. Thankfully, oil prices have fallen, but they remain much higher than before the war—and many countries are paying high premiums for access to precious supplies.
Spare a thought for the Pacific Island nations at the end of a long supply chain, wondering if fuel will still reach them in the wake of such a severe disruption ", - said IMF head Kristalina Georgieva.
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ADB highlights Georgia's favourable business climate and infrastructure ambitions as growth forecast upgraded - Deputy Economy Minister
10.04.2026.21:24
“The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has published its Asian Economic Outlook report, highlighting Georgia’s strong economic growth of 7.5% in 2025. For 2026, against a backdrop of ongoing regional conflicts, the ADB projects growth of 5.5 per cent, an improvement of 0.5 percentage points on the previous forecast,” Vakhtang Tsintsadze, Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, has stated.
The Deputy Minister noted that the report draws particular attention to Georgia’s current account deficit, having fallen to a record low, alongside international reserves reaching a record high.
For 2026, the ADB expects average inflation in Georgia to stand at 3.8 per cent, reducing the previous year’s figure.
“The Asian Development Bank also emphasises that Georgia is striving to establish itself as a trade, logistics, and transport hub. In this regard, the report highlights a series of reforms facilitating improvements to customs procedures and related processes. The Bank further underscores Georgia’s infrastructure achievements, both in port development and rail connectivity,” said Vakhtang Tsintsadze.
According to the Deputy Minister, the ADB report singles out Georgia’s attractive business environment for particular praise, drawing attention to the country’s free trade agreements, as well as the mechanisms in place to safeguard investors’ interests, all of which, taken together, serve to strengthen the confidence of both domestic and international investors and enhance Georgia’s appeal as an investment destination.
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