On June 26-27, 2009 the National Bank of Georgia, with the support of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Asian Development Bank (ADB), hosted the first-ever international conference on The Modern Role of Central Banks in Small Open Economies. The conference was held at the Tbilisi Marriot hotel.

High-ranking central bank officials from more than 20 countries, representatives of international financial institutions, and a number of the world’s leading universities participated in the conference. Dr. Robert Mundell, Professor of Economics at Columbia University and winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Economics, served as the keynote speaker.

This was the first time a conference of such importance and scope have been organized in Georgia. The aim of the conference was to focus on the global financial and economic situation, as the obvious impact of the financial crisis on small, open economies like Georgia’s takes its toll. The speeches and panel discussion at the conference explored consequences of the crisis, and specifically examined remedial policies implemented in Georgia and other countries, touching upon the role of central banks in overcoming economic downturns, as well as future plans and priorities.

Representatives of diplomatic missions and international organizations in Georgia, as well as members of NGOs, the private sector, and high-level managers of Georgian commercial banks where invited to attend.

The Prime Minister of Georgia Mr. Nikoloz Gilauri and other high-level officials of the executive and legislative branches of the Government of Georgia participated in the conference.

The National Bank of Georgia was represented by its President Mr. Giorgi Kadagidze, other high-ranked NBG officials.

Conference Agenda