If it were not for visa-free regime with the EU, Georgia would have had a positive migration balance in 2018-2021 – Kobakhidze
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According to Irakli Kobakhidze, chairman of the Georgian Dream, if it were not for the visa-free regime with the EU, Georgia would have had a positive rather than negative migration balance in 2018-2021.
Kobakhidze writes that the demographic situation and trends in Georgia require serious attention. According to him, those who really care about improving demographic trends in the country should not speculate, but submit business proposals.
"After the introduction of visa-free regime in the European Union in 2018-2021, the negative migration balance amounted to only 29 thousand people, i.e. in 4 years only 29 thousand more people left the country than entered (for comparison, under the previous government, in 2004-2012, when Georgian citizens could not benefit from the visa-free regime in the European Union, the negative migration balance amounted to 221 thousand people). If it were not for the visa-free regime with the EU, it can be said with certainty that Georgia would have had a positive, rather than negative, migration balance in 2018-2021. The USA has a rather strict visa policy for Georgian citizens. For example, in 2021, the USA approved 71 percent of Russian citizens' visa applications, and only 37 percent of Georgian citizens' visa applications (https://ukvisa.blog/2019/08/01/usa-visa-refusal-rate/). Of course, this circumstance causes serious inconvenience to the citizens of Georgia, among them it forces some people to take risks and move to the USA through Mexico. However, on the other hand, the strict visa policy significantly hinders the immigration of Georgians from Georgia to the USA, which has its own positive effect. Naturally, the balance of migration would worsen in the conditions of relaxation of the visa regime by the USA. In conclusion, it can be said that the demographic situation and trends of Georgia require serious attention. However, speculative and exaggerated statements prevail on this topic, which requires a proper response", - writes Irakli Kobakhidze.
