On May 21, Forbes Georgia, in collaboration with Concept Digital and Identomat, hosted the Forbes Georgia Banking Conference 2025. The event took place at the Warehouse Bar & Terrace in Stamba Hotel, attracting over 100 leaders and representatives from top organizations in the banking and fintech industries.
The conference aimed to provide clarity, knowledge, and a platform for sharing insights and forecasts during a time of ongoing regulatory changes and technological disruptions in the financial sector.
The Forbes Georgia Banking Conference 2025 began with guest arrivals and networking. The agenda focused on the critical challenges and opportunities facing the industry today, addressing topics such as artificial intelligence, open banking, and innovations in fintech.
The event opened with a keynote presentation exploring the nature of money, discussing its past, future, and the history behind the creation of the Georgian lari. Economist Giorgi Bakradze delivered the opening keynote. Next, Mikheil Kapanadze, Director of the Open Banking Project at the Georgian Banking Association, explored open banking and open finance. The third keynote, given by Ioane Chikovani, co-founder of Concept Digital, addressed the future of banking in an AI-driven world.
The conference concluded with a panel discussion entitled ‘Banking in Transition: Innovation and the Role of Fintech’. The panel featured Zurab Kotaria (Identomat), Davit Kikvidze (the Georgian Fintech Association), Mikheil Nonikashvili (Eurocredit), and Davit Zghudze (Mastercard). Ilia Revia from Crystal moderated the discussion.
The event was hosted by Giorgi Mirzikashvili, co-founder of the tech startup Optio, who closed the day by sharing his reflections on the importance of such gatherings:
Before founding Optio, I spent ten years working in Georgia’s banking sector during a period of significant transformation. During this time, banks introduced numerous new products and technological innovations to the market. In recent years, the Georgian banking system has faced several major challenges, all of which it has successfully navigated. I believe it is essential for representatives from the banking and fintech industries to exchange ideas, insights, and perspectives on a regular basis. Conferences like this provide new opportunities for collaboration, which are crucial for the development of Georgia’s broader financial ecosystem.
Following the panel discussion and Q&A session, the evening continued at the Warehouse Bar, providing guests with a more informal setting to network and exchange ideas. Mastercard and Eurocredit were the main partners of the event, while Crystal, Optio.AI, and ProCredit Bank also supported the event as partners. Supporting organizations included the Georgian Fintech Association, the Georgian Banking Association, and Adjara Group.
Forbes Georgia plans to host similar events in the future, creating opportunities for key industry players to share their visions and strategies with one another.
Shota Dighmelashvili, Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Georgia, said, reflecting on the significance of the event:
The Forbes Georgia Banking Conference 2025 wasn’t just a gathering of the industry’s established players—it was a stage for technological transformation. It’s no overstatement to say that the fintech future of our region is being shaped here in Georgia, and this conference was a clear reflection of that. We are proud to have brought together so many forward-thinking innovators, and we remain committed to advancing the sustainable technological growth and ongoing progress of the country’s most critical sectors.
About the Organizers
Forbes Georgia is the leading business media platform in the country, delivering readers comprehensive coverage of business, investment, technology, leadership, and the startup ecosystem.
Concept Digital is a digital solutions and product agency that helps companies scale and grow through innovative digital strategies.
Identomat offers AI-powered identity verification and authentication solutions, aiming to create a secure, simple, and reliable digital environment for businesses and users.
