Global Enabling Trade Report: Georgia’s Ranking Increased

The World Economic Forum’s Global Enabling Trade Report shows Georgia has moved up, now holding 41st position in the ranking, a five point increase compared to 2014. The report evaluates 136 countries and is produced once every two years.

Published under the World Economic Forum and the Global Alliance for Trade Facilitation, the Global Enabling Trade Report makes an evaluation of countries based on economic institutions, policy and infrastructure and on services that facilitate the cross-border flow of goods to their final destinations.

The report also evaluates the level of the country’s integration into the international trade arena and its potential.

The ratings are based on seven components, each evaluated by different indicators: domestic market access, foreign market access, efficiency and transparency of border administration, availability and quality of transport infrastructure, availability and quality of transport services, availability and use of ICTs, and operating environment.

In 2016 Georgia improved its rating in the foreign market access component with a score of 33 compared to 63 in 2014, seen as a result of signing the EU Association Agreement and DCFTA component especially, as well as the successful concluding of bilateral negotiations with China.

Georgia’s efficiency and transparency of border administration has also increased- by two points compared to 2014, from 41st place in 2014 to 39th place in 2016. The availability and quality of transport component went up by 3 points from 101 in 2014 to 98th place in 2016, while availability and use of ICTs by 5 points, from 70 in 2014 to 65th in 2016. Operating environment also saw a climb by 17 points- at 33rd place in 2016 compared to 50th place in 2014.

The local market access indicator showed 9th place compared to 6th in 2014.

However, the state institution efficiency indicator has also increased, moving from 25th to 20th position, as well as the indicator of access to financial resources and services.

The report also indicates that the top economies leading the trade across the borders are: Singapore being the top-most ranked, followed by The Netherlands, Hong Kong SAR, Luxemburg, Swden, Finland, Austria, United Kingdom, Germany and Belgium.

Nino Gugunishvili