AGP Executive Report

AI Education in Georgia: GWSB and Georgian National University SEU are launching a dual master’s in AI for Business in Tbilisi, starting this fall, aiming to build a pipeline of applied AI experts. Digital Privacy & Smart Glasses: Australia is set to unveil privacy-law reforms tied to AI and smart glasses, including a new identity protection service (IDLock) and a right to erasure; officials say an import ban isn’t on the table yet. Tourism Tech Push: Georgia is expanding its China marketing via Trip.com/Ctrip, launching a dedicated Georgia page and targeting more direct flights through end-2026. Local Tech & Business Support: Georgia Tech’s GaMEP will host an “Accelerating Your Food Business” workshop in Douglas on Sept. 3, covering licensing, branding, sourcing, co-packers, and distribution. Banking Audio Innovation: AccessBank (Azerbaijan) launched AccessRadio, an online audio platform combining music and podcasts on finance, business, and technology. Energy & Connectivity Watch: Azerbaijan-Uzbekistan ties deepen through SOCAR’s Uzbekistan upstream operator role, backed by major investment and a trans-Caspian connectivity push.

Tourism Tech in Batumi: Adjara and Batumi officials say the Batumi Botanical Garden saw a 10% visitor jump and plan upgrades like QR codes, electronic services, and a new tourist route in the humid subtropics phytogeographical area. Food & Business Training: Georgia Tech’s GaMEP will host an “Accelerating Your Food Business” workshop in Douglas on Sept 3, covering licensing, branding, sourcing and traceability, co-packers, customer discovery, and distribution. Border & Mobility Pressure: Reports say over 113,000 Russians crossed into Georgia via Verkhny Lars in one week amid mobilization rumors, with authorities tightening focus on reservists. Energy & Connectivity: ADB approved a $400M regional facility to modernize border crossings across the CAREC region, aiming to cut logistics bottlenecks. Regional Tech/Trade Link: Georgia expands tourism marketing in China via Trip.com/Ctrip, launching a dedicated Georgia page and pushing for more direct flights. Clean Energy Push (Azerbaijan): Azerbaijan is betting on renewables diversification ahead of COP29, with World Bank support for scaling renewable energy and upgrading transmission. AI Skills Angle: Experts at a Nazarbayev University panel stress that AI can automate routine work, but human verification and expertise remain essential.

Data & Infrastructure Policy: Georgia adopted a nationwide emergency fuel waiver to expand gasoline supply and ease pump prices, allowing specific blends Aug. 29–31 and bringing winter-grade sales about two weeks early, with the waiver running through Sept. 15. Energy & Regional Tech/Industry: SOCAR is moving deeper into Uzbekistan’s upstream sector, taking operator status for six blocks under a PSA with planned investment around $2B—an energy partnership meant to strengthen trans-Caspian connectivity. Cyber/Trust & Digital Services: Cambodia’s Verify.gov.kh highlights QR-based document verification to cut forgery and reduce notarization needs, covering diplomas, health licenses, business registrations, and land titles. AI & Skills: A panel at Nazarbayev University stressed that AI can automate routine work, but human expertise is still needed to validate outputs. Mobility Tech: Archer Aviation plans an electric air-taxi vertiport network for LA28, aiming to reduce congestion during the Games. Tourism Tech: Tbilisi is expanding its China push via Trip.com/Ctrip, launching a dedicated Georgia page and targeting more direct flights through end-2026. Public Safety Tech: A Georgia “kill switch” proposal targets rapid removal of non-consensual intimate images, with platform penalties if they miss deadlines.

Tourism Tech & Connectivity: Georgia is boosting its China push via a partnership with Trip.com Group, launching a dedicated Georgia page on Ctrip and aiming to grow direct flights and bookings through end-2026. Energy Transition: Azerbaijan is betting on a clean energy expansion under COP29, with the World Bank’s AZURE project backing grid upgrades and onshore wind investment. Digital Trust Systems: Cambodia’s Verify.gov.kh shows how QR-based verification can cut document fraud by letting people confirm certificates, IDs, and licenses online. Fuel Supply Policy: Georgia adopted a nationwide EPA emergency fuel waiver to relax certain gasoline rules, adding more supply and enabling earlier winter-grade sales to ease pump prices. Regional Trade Infrastructure: The ADB approved a $400M BUILD facility to modernize border crossings across CAREC, targeting faster logistics and fewer bottlenecks. AI Skills: A panel at Nazarbayev University stressed that AI can automate routine work, but human expertise is still needed to verify results. Cybersecurity Risk: Reports say Iran-linked hackers took a UK power plant offline for four days, highlighting growing critical-infrastructure threats. South Caucasus Diplomacy: A senior Azerbaijani official says the US-backed Azerbaijan-Armenia peace deal could unlock new US investment, energy cooperation, and regional connectivity.

Tourism & Connectivity: Georgia is stepping up its China push with Trip.com Group, launching a dedicated Georgia page on Ctrip and planning more direct-flight efforts through end-2026. Energy & Prices: Georgia adopted a U.S. EPA emergency fuel waiver to expand gasoline supply (Aug. 29–31) and start winter-grade sales about two weeks early, aiming to ease pump-price pressure. Rural Health Tech: Georgia will receive $93.3M to upgrade 87 rural hospitals with surgical robotics, telehealth, and hospital cybersecurity, plus maternal and mental health capacity. AI & Skills: A panel at Nazarbayev University stressed that as AI automates routine work, human verification and expertise stay essential for safe decision-making. Trade & Logistics: The Middle Corridor push highlights the need to modernize ports, rail, and digital tools to cut delays across the China–Caucasus–Europe route. Border Modernization: ADB approved a $400M facility to upgrade border crossings across CAREC, targeting faster, smarter movement of people and goods. Social Media Safety: Meta faces major child-safety changes after a $17.1B multistate settlement, including daily time limits and “productive pauses.”

Fuel Prices Relief: Georgia adopted a nationwide emergency fuel waiver to boost gasoline supply, allowing certain blends Aug. 29–31 and starting winter-grade sales about two weeks early; the waiver runs through Sept. 15. Education & Research Funding: Georgia Southwestern University launched its “Rising Together, Shaping Futures” campaign, raising $12M toward a $15M goal, targeting student success, access, and faculty excellence. Rural Health Tech: Georgia is set to receive $93.3M in federal support for 87 rural hospitals, including surgical robotics, telehealth, and hospital cybersecurity upgrades. Border & Mobility Pressure: More than 113,000 Russians reportedly entered Georgia via Verkhny Lars in one week amid mobilization rumors, with authorities citing surging daily crossings. AI & Skills: Experts say AI is taking over routine coding and analysis, but human verification and expertise remain essential as workplaces digitize. Regional Connectivity: The Middle Corridor’s operators are urged to cut delays through modernization across ports, rail, and digital tools to unlock faster Asia–Europe trade via Georgia. Energy & Security Talk: Abkhaz experts discussed a fuel crisis and the Georgian debate over conflict resolution, including claims of unexpected fuel supplies from Tbilisi.

AI & Skills: Experts at Nazarbayev University say AI is taking over routine coding and data work, but human verification and expertise remain essential for safe decisions. Cybersecurity & Finance: Georgia Tech-linked research highlights Android banking apps as top malware targets; once malware takes over a phone, SMS/push/in-app approvals can be bypassed, enabling unauthorized transfers. Critical Infrastructure Attacks: CISA reports hackers hit 100+ U.S. water and wastewater systems, targeting control devices and sometimes altering safety functions. Georgia Civic Tech/Policy: A new “Anti-Annexation Platform” was launched in Tbilisi, aiming to oppose Russia’s occupation and de facto annexation through legal, public, peaceful action. Rural Healthcare Tech: Georgia is set to receive $93.3M for 87 rural hospitals, including telehealth, cybersecurity upgrades, robotics, and dementia care capacity. Regional Connectivity Funding: The ADB approved a $400M facility to modernize border crossings across CAREC corridors, aiming to cut logistics bottlenecks.

Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: CISA says Iran-linked hackers hit 100+ U.S. water and wastewater systems in July, targeting programmable controllers and sometimes altering safety shutdowns and alarms—raising the stakes for industrial security. Mobile Banking Fraud: Georgia Tech research highlights how Android banking malware can bypass every phone-based authentication method, with attackers increasingly shifting to smaller banks and credit unions. Civic Tech & Legal Action: Georgia’s new Anti-Annexation Platform launched in Tbilisi, pledging legal, public, and peaceful action against Russia’s occupation and de facto annexation while supporting displaced people. Regional Defense & Industry: Armenia and India signed new defense cooperation steps, while SOCAR will be a premier partner at Turkmenistan’s OGT 2026, emphasizing energy innovation and digitalization. Tech Policy: Meta agreed to major child-safety changes after a multistate settlement, and the U.S. is moving to tighten Iran-related financial and tech restrictions that could ripple into the South Caucasus.

Cybersecurity: Georgia Tech researchers report Android banking apps are the most-targeted malware category in the U.S., and once malware takes over a phone, SMS codes, push approvals, and in-app confirmations can fail—while in 35 of 159 tested banking apps, attackers could move money without user action. Policy & Society: Georgia’s education reform shows a shift in enrollment after the first Unified National Exams—state universities lost students while private universities gained. Local Infrastructure: Adjara’s “City of Dreams” project is expanding with a kindergarten (over 6 million GEL, aiming for July 2027) and a new public school design competition for 1,500 students. Urban Development: Tbilisi demolition coverage highlights the removal of “Silo” and the “Rike Tubes” (Rikis Doqebi), two distinctive Soviet-era and modern landmarks. Civic Action: A new citizens’ association, the “Anti-Annexation Platform,” was launched in Tbilisi to oppose Russia’s occupation and de facto annexation. Tech & Finance (Regional): PMCG says the Middle Corridor needs private capital and digital infrastructure to unlock major trade growth.

Nuclear Tech: Radiant says the U.S. Army (with DIU) has signed a binding deal worth up to $750M to develop and deploy 15 transportable nuclear microreactors for the Army’s Janus Program, pushing factory-built “energy independence” tech toward military bases. Energy Security & Trade Finance: PMCG argues the Middle Corridor needs private capital and digital connectivity to unlock faster trade growth, citing potential tripling of volumes by 2030 and new demand for ports, logistics, energy networks, and data infrastructure. Cybersecurity: A former White House adviser warns Iran-linked cyberattacks on U.S. critical infrastructure are likely to intensify, after reports of hackers taking a UK power plant offline. Aerospace Modernization: Raytheon won a $603M contract to produce and sustain the AN/APQ-188 AESA radar for the B-52, improving all-weather navigation and long-range strike capability. Local Tech & Education: Two Tbilisi schools will start the academic year in hybrid format due to Rustaveli Avenue rehabilitation, with set in-person schedules and remote classes for upper grades. Tech Policy & Society: Meta reached a major U.S. state settlement over claims of addictive social media harms to children, with funding tied to youth online safety controls.

Baku’s Balancing Act: Azerbaijan is trying to manage security risks from Russia, Iran, and Armenia while keeping ties with Israel and Turkey—using diplomacy and commerce to avoid picking one side. Energy Security Shift: A new “routes, not just chokepoints” approach is emerging as governments diversify pipelines, rail, power lines, and corridors linking the Caspian and South Caucasus to Europe. Hybrid Schooling in Tbilisi: Two schools (Tbilisi Public School No. 47 and Tbilisi Classical Gymnasium) will start the academic year in hybrid format due to Rustaveli Avenue rehabilitation, with set in-person schedules and remote classes for upper grades. Georgia Tech Spotlight: A special report highlights how Georgia is building tech capacity across AI, health tech, data centers, cybersecurity, software, and fintech. Drone Supply Push: The U.S. is advancing a $1.1B Drone Dominance Program aimed at scaling domestic production of lethal small UAS by 2027. Cyber Threats: A warning says Iran-linked hackers may intensify attacks on U.S. critical infrastructure, including water systems. Blueberry Congress: Georgia will host its first International Congress on Blueberry Production in November in Batumi, pairing conferences with a field day. Local Governance & Tech: Radio Liberty reports eight businesses tied to Georgia’s Co-Investment Fund being moved to Bidzina Ivanishvili’s wife’s name as offshore liquidation proceeds.

Blueberry Push in Georgia: Georgia will host the first International Congress on Blueberry Production in Batumi on Nov. 25–27, with two days of technical talks and a Nov. 27 Field Day at Keystone Agro, aiming to build a global hub for growers and specialists. Mining Tech Deal (Region): Metso signed about a €25M equipment supply agreement with Aldridge Mineral Madencilik for Türkiye’s Yenipazar polymetallic project, including comminution and flotation systems plus lab analyzers. Drone Industrial Scaling (US): The White House advanced a $1.1B Drone Dominance Program to procure 200,000+ lethal small UAS by 2027, tying testing to production and pushing domestic sourcing for motors, microelectronics, and batteries. Cybersecurity (UK/US): Iranian-linked hackers reportedly shut down a UK power plant for four days; separate reporting warns Tehran may intensify attacks on US critical infrastructure. Governance & Tech (Georgia): Radio Liberty reports eight companies tied to Georgia’s Co-Investment Fund were registered under Bidzina Ivanishvili’s wife, as the Luxembourg entity moves into liquidation. Space Watch: NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman telescope is set to launch Aug. 30 on a Falcon Heavy, targeting exoplanet confirmation with a high-resolution camera.

Cybersecurity & Critical Infrastructure: Iranian-affiliated hackers reportedly took a small UK power plant offline for four days, with both attacks targeting industrial control systems used across energy and water. Regional Tech & Resilience: The Asian Development Bank launched an AI project with Azerbaijan to strengthen infrastructure resilience and disaster-risk adaptation, with Georgia among participating countries. Education Tech: Georgia’s education ministry rolled out an online school-uniform platform (formebi.emis.ge) with delivery via Georgian Post, while Tbilisi public schools continue major rehabilitation ahead of the new year. Policy & Governance: Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan presented a 2026–2031 action plan focused on peace institutionalization, border work, and transport/digital infrastructure. Georgia in the spotlight: Georgian civil society warned of intensifying Russian propaganda and influence, and former PM Irakli Garibashvili was charged with taking a bribe tied to a defense procurement case. Geopolitics & Trade: A US white paper alleges Azerbaijan, Georgia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan help China evade tariffs, flagging “weak-link” logistics and enforcement gaps.

Armenia 2026–2031 Plan: Armenian PM Nikol Pashinyan presented a five-year government action plan covering national security, democratic reforms, and economic policy, with a key focus on “institutionalizing peace” with Azerbaijan and border demarcation. Georgia Politics & Sovereignty: More than 100 Georgian civil society figures warned of intensifying Russian propaganda and growing Russian influence, citing risks to sovereignty and European integration. Corruption Case: Ex-PM Irakli Garibashvili was charged with taking a large bribe tied to a Defense Ministry procurement scheme, with prosecutors alleging losses up to GEL 7 million. AI for Resilience (Regional): The Asian Development Bank launched an AI project with Azerbaijan to strengthen infrastructure resilience and disaster-risk adaptation, with Georgia included among participating countries. Education Tech: Georgia’s education ministry introduced an online platform (formebi.emis.ge) for parents to buy school uniforms starting Sept. 1, with Georgian Post handling delivery. Cybersecurity Watch: Reports say Iranian-linked hackers temporarily shut down a UK power plant for four days, highlighting growing risks to critical infrastructure. Energy Pivot: Georgia’s Kulevi refinery is starting to shift away from Russian crude as EU sanctions tighten, including first imports of Kazakh oil.

Russian Influence Watch: Over 100 Georgian civil society figures signed a statement accusing Georgian Dream-linked groups of pushing Russian propaganda and undermining sovereignty, citing intensified pro-Russia narratives and “Russophobia” rhetoric. Anti-Corruption: Ex-PM Irakli Garibashvili was charged with taking a bribe tied to a Defense Ministry procurement scheme, with prosecutors alleging up to GEL 7 million in public losses. AI for Resilience: The Asian Development Bank launched an AI project with Azerbaijan to help countries strengthen infrastructure resilience and disaster-risk adaptation, with Georgia among participating members. School Infrastructure: Tbilisi public schools are undergoing major rehabilitation, including renovated yards, classrooms, and bathrooms ahead of the new school year. Energy Diversification: Georgia’s Kulevi refinery is starting to shift away from Russian crude under EU sanctions pressure, with Kazakhstan imports appearing for the first time. Cybersecurity Risk: Reports say Iranian hackers shut down a UK power plant for four days, highlighting growing threats to critical infrastructure. Regional Tech & Research: Harvard’s Georgian Studies Program was suspended after Georgia’s education ministry declined to extend funding.

Regional Diplomacy: OSCE veteran Zannier argues multilateralism is eroding and calls for renewed, inclusive regional dialogue frameworks, pointing to an Oman-led Gulf process backed by a “Group of Friends.” Energy & Sanctions: Georgia’s Kulevi refinery is starting to pivot away from Russian crude as EU sanctions raise the cost; July saw Georgia import Kazakh oil for the first time, signaling diversification ahead of a 2027 sanctions deadline. Cybersecurity: A report says Iranian hackers shut down a UK power plant for four days, a reminder that critical infrastructure is vulnerable to coordinated cyber disruption. Georgia in the Spotlight: The U.S. Harvard Georgian Studies Program has been suspended after Georgia’s Education Ministry refused to extend funding, citing missing program details. Tech & Society: Educators in the U.S. are piloting AI literacy training to help students and teachers use AI safely and spot its mistakes. Health Research: A new EULAR-backed study highlights uneven access to rheumatology care across Europe, from specialist shortages to treatment gaps.