14.12.2025 11:57
It has been announced that 'mandatory health insurance' will be implemented for crossings between Turkey and Georgia. It is stated that the mandatory health insurance application, which will be put into effect by 2026, will lead to significant changes in the structure of trade between the two countries.
The health insurance period begins as of the new year for crossings between Turkey and Georgia, which have long been made only with identity cards. The Georgian government has introduced a requirement for travel and health insurance for Turkish citizens entering the country. The implementation will come into effect on January 1, 2026.
FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN TRADE STRUCTURE Çetin Demirci, President of ATSO, stated that the health insurance application to be implemented between Turkey and Georgia as of 2026 will lead to significant changes in the structure of trade.
"A POSITIVE STEP CENTERED ON HUMAN HEALTH" Emphasizing that border trade has a significant share in the socio-economic structure of Ardahan and Kars, Demirci said, "The health insurance application starting in 2026 will open the door to a new era in Turkey-Georgia trade. Whether this transformation will turn into an opportunity or a costly problem for Ardahan largely depends on the management of the application in the field. The mandatory health insurance application planned to be implemented between Turkey and Georgia by 2026 seems likely to cause significant changes in the structure of trade between the two countries. Especially, micro and small-scale trade conducted through our border gates will be among the areas that will feel this new process directly. Border trade, which has a significant share in the socio-economic structure of our Ardahan and Kars provinces, must seriously address the effects of this regulation in terms of both opportunities and risks. The aim of the health insurance system is to ensure that drivers, transporters, and business people engaged in commercial activities between the two countries have access to emergency health services. In this respect, the application is a positive step centered on human health. However, the costs of insurance premiums, the functioning of procedures, and the bureaucratic intensity of the process will add new logistics costs. This process will inevitably reflect additional costs on prices and trade volume, especially for small businesses operating with a fast cycle along the Turkey-Georgia line," he said.
"PREMIUMS MUST BE SET AT REASONABLE LEVELS" Demirci emphasized that the Türkgözü and Aktaş customs gates opened to Georgia form the lifeblood of the regional economy and requested that the premiums in the mandatory health insurance to be implemented be set at reasonable levels. Noting that the insurance control mechanism could extend the transition period in the initial phase, Demirci said, "Small tradesmen and transporters, who are dependent on the rapid flow of trade, will feel these delays as a cost-increasing factor. Activities related to border trade around Ardahan and Kars are mostly carried out by micro-scale businesses. There is a possibility that insurance premiums may create a proportionally higher cost pressure, especially for actors engaged in low-volume trade. On the other hand, the health insurance application will function to reduce unregistered activities at border crossings. This means both an increase in state revenues and the preservation of the competitiveness of regularly operating businesses.
"SYSTEMS MUST WORK QUICKLY" To avoid disruptions and time loss at the border and to ensure the healthy operation of the application, it is essential that the insurance verification systems work quickly. Otherwise, congestion may occur. Therefore, improving the digital infrastructure at border gates and integrating insurance companies into the field is of great importance. When evaluated from a human-centered perspective, health insurance can create a safe working environment for individuals engaged in trade, which may have a long-term effect of increasing the region's logistical attractiveness. A healthy, sustainable, and professional trade line will strengthen Ardahan's position in Caucasus-centered trade. As the Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we are closely following developments and aim for our members to emerge from this process with the least cost and the highest benefit. In this context, we have conveyed our demands to higher authorities regarding the reasonable determination of insurance premiums considering the realities of regional trade, the implementation of a gradual transition or discounted premium application for small-scale businesses, and the acceleration of digital verification processes at the Türkgözü and Aktaş border gates."
"BORDER TRADE IS THE ECONOMIC BACKBONE OF OUR REGION" Çetin Demirci stated, "We also find it important to hold information meetings for our tradesmen and transporters before the implementation begins. We will continue to adopt a solution-oriented approach, as always, for the strengthening of regional trade. Border trade is the social and economic backbone of our region, and strengthening this backbone is a shared responsibility for all of us."