The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has approved a GEL 270 million (approximately $100 million) loan to JSC TBC Bank in Georgia to expand access to affordable financing for micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). Up to 70% of the loan will directly support MSMEs, with at least 20% earmarked for women-owned or led businesses and 30% allocated to green investments that align with the National Bank of Georgia’s green taxonomy.
ADB Country Director for Georgia, Lesley Bearman Lahm, emphasized that strengthening the private sector is a core priority, noting that MSMEs are the backbone of the Georgian economy. The partnership with TBC Bank is expected to provide long-term, sustainable, and inclusive economic growth by enabling MSMEs to access stable, affordable loans and supporting business expansion and job creation.
The project also focuses on environmentally sustainable development. It will provide tailored green financing solutions to help businesses adopt low-carbon practices and strengthen resilience to extreme weather, contributing to Georgia’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 35% from 1990 levels by 2030. In addition, ADB will provide $250,000 in technical assistance to help TBC Bank develop internal green finance capacity and improve tools for measuring and reporting borrowers’ greenhouse gas impacts.
TBC Bank CEO Vakhtang Butskhrikidze highlighted that the financing will strengthen the bank’s ability to support MSMEs, women-led enterprises, and green investments, aligning with the bank’s strategy to promote inclusive and resilient economic growth. The project will also enhance rural outreach, supporting local business growth, income generation, and job creation.
The initiative aligns with ADB’s country partnership strategy for Georgia (2024–2028), which emphasizes private sector investment, small business development, and environmentally sustainable practices. TBC Bank, a leading financial services group in Georgia, holds a 37.2% market share in customer loans and deposits and is part of TBC Bank Group PLC, listed on the London Stock Exchange and included in the FTSE4Good Index Series and MSCI United Kingdom Small Cap Index.
ADB has supported Georgia since 2007 and is the country’s largest multilateral development partner, providing over $5 billion in cumulative assistance, including about $1 billion in private sector investments. Through its five-year strategy, ADB aims to develop Georgia as a green and inclusive regional gateway by supporting both sovereign and private sector projects, policy reforms, capacity building, resilient infrastructure, and regional integration. Founded in 1966, ADB is owned by 69 members, 50 of which are from the Asia-Pacific region, and works to promote inclusive, resilient, and sustainable growth across the region.
