Central Asia Transit Push: Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze says Georgia is prioritizing deeper ties with Central Asia to unlock economic potential and strengthen its role as a Europe-to-region transit corridor, pointing to growing trade links since 2022 and planned visits to Kazakhstan plus return visits by Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. Tajikistan-Georgia Deals: Following high-level talks, Georgia and Tajikistan signed a package of cooperation agreements covering air transport, tourism, education and science, economic cooperation governance, climate and environmental risk work, and sports. Georgia Economy Snapshot: GeoStat reports Georgia’s Q1 2026 GDP grew 9.0% year-on-year, with the biggest positive contributions from information and communication, transport and storage, wholesale/retail, finance, and arts—while agriculture and construction contracted. Energy & Shipping Watch: Analysts flag that Middle East shipping risk around the Strait of Hormuz remains volatile, with fertilizer and ammonia cargo flows still sensitive to corridor safety—an issue that matters for regional supply chains feeding agriculture. Azerbaijan Gas Output: Azerbaijan produced 20.935 bcm of natural gas in Jan–May 2026, with exports rising in volume but revenues down on lower international prices.