At its meeting, the Economic Policy Committee considered several new legislative initiatives in the I reading. First Deputy Chair of the Georgian Dream parliamentary faction, Levan Machavariani, presented the draft Spatial Planning, Architectural and Construction Activities Code, prepared as a legislative initiative by members of the parliamentary majority.

According to the presenter, under the current legislation, if construction or works on an immovable cultural heritage monument are carried out within a cultural heritage protection zone located within the administrative boundaries of Tbilisi Municipality, and the construction permit expires before the works are completed, or if unauthorized construction has been undertaken, the administrative body responsible for construction supervision grants the violator a 90-day period to obtain the necessary consent/permit or remedy the violation.

Levan Machavariani explained that the law also provides that this exemption applies where the additional floor area of a new building or the increased area resulting from the expansion of an existing structure does not exceed 10 square meters. According to him, the proposed amendments will further specify the types of construction to which these exemptions apply and will help significantly reduce unauthorized construction within cultural heritage protection zones and on cultural heritage monuments in Tbilisi.

At the meeting, Committee Chair Shota Berekashvili presented the draft law on Organizing Lotteries, Games of Chance and Other Prize Games, along with the related package of amendments. Under the proposed changes, a new category of licenses for electronically organized gaming systems will be introduced. As a result, the number of license applicants in Georgia is expected to increase, while Georgian citizens will be protected from additional harmful influences.

According to the legislative initiative, participation in electronically organized games operated under an international gaming license will be permitted only for foreign citizens and stateless persons.

The draft Law on Grants would authorize JSC Georgian Energy Development Fund to receive and issue grants. Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee, Maia Bitadze, addressed the committee regarding the bill.

According to Maia Bitadze, the Georgian Energy Development Fund was accredited by the Green Climate Fund in 2025. The Fund’s total contributions amount to approximately USD 22 billion. She noted that the Green Climate Fund finances numerous projects in Georgia through various international organizations aimed at climate adaptation and mitigation measures.

“By granting the Georgian Energy Development Fund the authority to receive and issue grants, it will be able to obtain funding directly from the Green Climate Fund and finance projects related to the green economy, climate adaptation, and climate change mitigation”, - Maia Bitadze stated.

The committee approved the legislative initiatives.

The Economic Policy Committee also endorsed for ratification the amendments to the Free Trade Agreement between Georgia and the People’s Republic of China.

According to Deputy Economy and Sustainable Development Minister Genadi Arveladze, the amendments clarify existing chapters of the agreement and introduce new areas of cooperation. He noted that investment and electronic commerce will be added as new chapters, further promoting trade and economic relations between the two countries.