🇬🇪 Georgia

Georgia is a South Caucasus country of 3.7 million with a $25 billion GDP that's been pulling in two directions — toward the EU and NATO on one hand, and under Russian pressure on the other. Russia occupies about 20% of Georgian territory (Abkhazia and South Ossetia) since the 2008 war. Tbilisi has become a digital nomad hotspot, with a one-year remote worker visa and low cost of living. Georgia claims to be the birthplace of wine — 8,000-year-old clay vessels (qvevri) used for winemaking have been found here. The country's cuisine (khachapuri, khinkali) has developed a global following.

Tourism, agriculture (wine, hazelnuts — Georgia is the world's third-largest hazelnut producer), and remittances drive the economy. The country has attracted significant foreign investment in hydropower and mining. Turkey, Russia, and China are the main trade partners. GDP growth has been strong at 5-7% in recent years, boosted by an influx of Russian citizens and capital after 2022. Georgia has a flat 20% income tax and a business-friendly regulatory environment.

Georgia's polyphonic singing tradition is so unique that a Georgian folk song was included on the Voyager Golden Record sent into space in 1977. The country has its own unique alphabet — one of only 14 in the world still in use — dating back to the 5th century. Tbilisi's sulfur baths, built over natural hot springs, have been in continuous use for over 700 years.

Georgia's EU aspirations and economic dynamism are real, but the Russian occupation and recent political tensions over a "foreign agents" law have complicated the Western integration path. The next few years are pivotal.