Foreign students contribute ₾1.2 billion to Georgia’s economy

Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze on Friday said that foreign students generated GEL 1.2 billion annually for Georgia’s economy, warning that cancelling foreign student programmes would cause significant economic losses.

The PM  said 37,000 foreign students were currently studying in Georgia, the majority of whom were Indian citizens. He said 7% of students come from Jordan, 6% from Israel, 5% from Sudan, and 3% each from Pakistan, the United Kingdom, and Egypt.

Kobakhidze noted that on average, each foreign student paid GEL 15,500 per year in tuition fees and spent an additional GEL 16,300 annually within the country. Altogether, their economic contribution amounted to GEL 1.2 billion, resulting in approximately GEL 300 million in annual budget revenues.

He also said that foreign students supported the creation of more than 10,000 jobs in Georgia.

“Cancelling foreign student programmes would create a significant shortfall for Georgia’s economy, state budget, and employment levels,” the Prime Minister said.

Kobakhidze added that foreign students leave the country upon receiving their diplomas and therefore do not pose any demographic risk to Georgia.