It is an important industrial center, with a large ferro-alloy plant processing manganese ore from nearby Chiatura.

The Zestaponi ferro-alloy plant processes raw manganese ore shipped by rail down the Kvirila valley from Chiatura, supplying 6% of world demand.

[4] Two other plants in the Zestaponi / Shorapani area produce electrical products, aluminum and copper cable and wire.

[2] Zestaponi lies 2 kilometres (1.2 miles) west of the small but ancient fortress town of Shorapani, founded by Pharnavaz I of Iberia in the 3rd century BC.

The local football club, FC Zestaponi, plays in the top league in Georgia and twice won the Georgian championship in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 season.

[8] Famous Georgian actors Shalva Ghambashidze, Ushangi Chkheidze, Sergo and Bukhuti Zakariadze were also born in Zestaponi.