The August-September 2025 issue of Forbes Georgia has been released, and on the cover you will see:
◾ On the cover | International recognition for local success | Author: Anina Tepnadze
Audit and consulting firm მოორ has been creating a success story in Georgia for 17 years. According to SARAS, Moore grew by 63% in 2024 and is currently ranked 8th among audit firms operating in Georgia, and 2nd in Georgia with an annual revenue growth of 63%.
In this issue you will also read:
Rating
◾ Highest-Rating Private Schools
There are more than 200 private schools in Georgia that provide general education under state regulation. Approximately 70,000 students study in such schools, which is 11% of the total number of students in the country. The value of assets of almost 25% of existing schools exceeds one million GEL, while the remaining 75% of schools are small.
We present the top fifty most profitable private schools by revenue received in 2023.
◾ What is the Tbilisi budget spent on?
The budget of the city of Tbilisi in 2025 is 2.3 billion GEL. This is the amount that the Tbilisi government must spend this year. Compared to 2024, the budget has increased by 9.3%, or 194 million GEL. Over the past 10 years, the Tbilisi budget has increased almost 2.5 times. According to the current draft of the Tbilisi budget, the Tbilisi government will spend 2.3 billion GEL in 2025, although this number may change. Let us present to you what the Tbilisi budget is filled with and what it is spent on.
Opinion
◾ The loss of visa liberalization: not only political, but also existential and civilizational damage | Author: Tengiz Verulava
For Georgia, distancing itself from the West by losing visa liberalization is not just a political defeat. It is, above all, an existential, civilizational, and cultural damage that calls into question the path of development that the country has been striving for for centuries.
◾Is Georgia the only country left in the Caucasian chalk circle? | Author: Aka Zarkua
In 2021, when I came to cover the early elections in Armenia, I heard an interesting joke from the locals – it was only a few months after the second Karabakh war, the atmosphere of disappointment and defeat in the country was easily noticeable, and early parliamentary elections were called precisely to defuse the acute political crisis. “In the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan, Russia always supported the conflict,” was the joke, which contained a larger grain of truth than usual. The Karabakh conflict, like Abkhazia, Samochchatla, Transnistria and others, was the main instrument of Russian influence and pressure in the post-Soviet space.
Interview
◾ Make Ukraine Great Again | Author: Petro Chernyshov
Steve Forbes, 77, the grandson of the founder of the Forbes brand and current editor-in-chief of Forbes US, is a longtime advocate for economic freedom and a supporter of the Republican Party. What does he think about the current state of global politics and the world economy, and what advice does he offer Ukraine on how to build a successful country?
Entrepreneurs
◾ Dynamic Menu for a Dynamic World | Author: Anina Tefnadze
Startup Chama was founded by childhood friends Tornike Gagua and Giorgi Loria at the age of 20. The dynamic digital menu platform helps restaurants optimize their workload and allows customers to pay less for the dishes they want. The startup is one of the winners of GITA’s 150,000-GEL grant program. Forbes Georgia spoke with Tornike and Giorgi about the restaurant industry, their experience building a startup, and their future plans.
◾ Mentorpreneur | Author: Iza Gvaramadze
Davit Tsitskishvili’s entrepreneurial journey began about 15 years ago. He faced many problems along the way, but the bitter experience did not stop him from moving forward, but rather became his main guide to success. He now helps other budding entrepreneurs to find their way to their goals, and he himself is preparing for new entrepreneurial adventures.
From partners
◾ Beyond the Frame: A New Understanding of Real Estate | Author: Anina Tefnadze
As Georgia’s real estate market becomes saturated, standard investment models are becoming obsolete. Giorgi Potskhveria, co-founder of Idea Development, is convinced that the future lies in data-driven personalization. With Idea Invest, he is creating a platform that is prepared to meet this change.
◾ Affordable Fuel Portal | Author: Kakhi Chakvetadze
Competition in the Georgian fuel market is increasing, but Portal manages to expand its network and maintain quality at the same time, which remains a challenge for many today.
◾ A new standard for resort development | Author: Iza Gvaramadze
Petra Group entered the real estate market in 2023, but its core team consists of experienced experts in the sector. Led by Tinatin Kalandarishvili, the company creates independently conceived resorts in collaboration with international brands and aims to set a new standard for resort development in Georgia.
Economy
◾ The average salary in Georgia has increased — the reason | Author: Egnate Shamugia
The positive dynamics of the labor market over the past few years have continued into the current period. In the first quarter of 2025, compared to the same period of the previous year, the average monthly nominal wage of hired workers increased by 11.7%, which in real terms (adjusted for the consumer price index) is an 8.8% increase in the level of wages. As of the first quarter, the average monthly nominal wage is 2,100 GEL.
◾ What was the first half of 2025 like for tourism? | Author: Beso Namchavadze
Georgia is among the countries in whose economy tourism plays a significant role. The income of the Georgian population, economic growth, and the stability of the GEL exchange rate significantly depend on the income received from tourism. For example, in 2024, Georgia had a deficit of $6.6 billion in foreign trade in goods, of which $3.9 billion was covered by the money received from tourists.
Question
◾ From Atropatene to Azerbaijan | Author: Nika Khoperia
Azerbaijan is the ancient name of both a state in the Caucasus and a large historical region of Asia, which has a long history and dates back to antiquity. What geographical area does Azerbaijan cover, what did it represent historically, and which civilizations have existed in this space?
