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Capacity Building Trainings in Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti region

on 01 Jan : 00:00

On March 15 – 16, 2018, the second capacity building training for regional civil society organizations took place in Akhaltsikhe, Samtskhe-Javakheti region. The training was led by one of the project implementers, the Association of Business Consulting Organizations (ABCO), whose representative, Konstantin Zhgenti, provided trainees with information about the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), including what DCFTA benefits are available for Georgia, what it offers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how the latter can engage into the European single market.

The training in Akhaltsikhe was attended by 19 representatives of civil society organizations, among which NGO Civic Development center, Small and Medium Business Enterprise Development support Center, NGO “Sulta Khsna” and many others. The purpose of the training was to increase civil society representatives’ knowledge about DCFTA and to involve them into the project by providing capacities to inform Georgian public about DCFTA/SME strategy implementation and to assist local small and medium entrepreneurs that they could use DCFTA provided opportunities and would prepare to export to the European market.

After the training session, the participants stated that they were especially pleased with how the trainers managed to create an interactive session, which allowed them to acquire even more knowledge about the DCFTA and its benefits. Also, it is worth mentioning that, after the training session, the majority of the participants stated that they acquired useful information and were ready to spread this information to other concerned parties.

The next phase of involving trained civil society organizations in the project activities will be announcing a call for sub-granting, which will allow regional organizations to apply for funds to implement activities related to implementing DCFTA/SME communication campaign and to consult regional small and medium entrepreneurs on DCFTA.

Additionally, to the training, an introductory session to the DCFTA Local Advisory Council (LAC) was also conducted. Starting from May, 2018, regular meetings of public officials, civil society and SME representatives is to take place in Samtskhe-Javakheti region. This introductory session was accompanied by various public officials representing relevant government bodies at regional and municipal levels, as well as local business representatives. All of them agreed that establishing such an institution would be beneficial and even necessary.

Presentation of the study “Results of the DCFTA Related Mappings of Georgian SMEs and CSOs" in Tbilisi, Georgia

on 12 Mar : 10:38

On March 9, EESC together with partners hosted an event at the Information Centre on NATO and EU in Tbilisi, during which presented the results of its two surveys conducted on civil society organizations and small and medium enterprises in all regions of Georgia. 168 civil society organizations and 559 small and medium enterprises in 61 municipalities throughout Georgia participated.

The surveys analysed the opportunities offered by the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Agreement (DCFTA) concluded between the European Union and Georgia and identified the main challenges for Georgian small and medium enterprises and civil society organizations.

“Georgian civil society organizations are more aware about the DCFTA and the opportunities it provides than regional small and medium enterprises. 1/3 of interviewed civil society organizations indicated that they are already working on DCFTA related topics,” said Natia Dagelashvili from Georgian Institute of Politics.

The survey conducted among small and medium enterprises revealed that out of all interviewed regional SMEs, only 23% are exporting their products. The leading export regions are Guria (47% of interviewed SMEs are exporting), Imereti (37.5%) and Adjara A.R. (33%), while the region of Samtskhe-Javakheti showed lowest export engagement (7%)

Also, only 15% of interviewed small and medium enterprises are exporting solely to EU countries; 27% are exporting both to the EU and other markets; while the majority of exporting SMEs – 58% - are exporting to non-EU countries.

“Despite the fact that Georgian small and medium enterprises view the DCFTA positively, they lack in-depth understanding and guidance on how to access the EU single market, where to look for financial support, and which production standards to apply in order to meet EU regulations,” said Konstantin Zhgenti from the Association of Business Consulting Organizations in Tbilisi.

According to Dominik Papenheim, the EU Delegation representative in Georgia: "Today's presented project is one of several projects under the EU4Business initiative that supports Georgian small and medium enterprises in access to finance, stronger business skills and access to new markets. Since 2009, the European Union has provided 2.1 billion GEL (€711 million) in total for 63,000 Georgian companies in order to realise their full potential and boost economic growth."

“The surveys discussed today are intended to lay the ground work for trainings among Georgian civil society organizations on DCFTA implementation. After the trainings, regional civil society organizations are to engage and assist regional small and medium enterprises in their efforts to access the EU single market. In addition, the Georgian public will be informed about economic opportunities stemming from the DCFTA,” said Dovile Sukyte from the Eastern Europe Studies Centre in Vilnius, Lithuania.

Capacity Building Trainings in Telavi, Kakheti region

on 01 Jan : 00:00

On March 6 – 7, 2018, the first of ten capacity building trainings for regional civil society organizations took place in Telavi, Kakheti region. The training was led by one of the project implementers, the Association of Business Consulting Organizations (ABCO), whose representative, Konstantin Zhgenti, provided trainees with information about the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA), including what DCFTA benefits are available for Georgia, what it offers for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and how the latter can engage into the European single market.

The training in Telavi was attended by 18 representatives of civil society organizations, among which were Farmers’ Associations, Community Union and Kakheti Regional Development Agency. The purpose of the training was to increase civil society representatives’ knowledge about the DCFTA and to involve them in the project by improving their capacities to inform the Georgian public about DCFTA/SME strategy implementation and to assist local small and medium entrepreneurs to allow them to use DCFTA-provided opportunities and prepare them to export to the European market.

Prior to the training, the participants indicated that they do not have enough information about general standards and quality requirements for exporting commodities to the EU common market. After the training session, it was clear that these trainings were beneficial in providing necessary information about general standards and quality requirements. In addition, the training was helpful in providing the participants with information about how to find a business partner in European Union, as many participants indicated prior to the trainings that they did not have such information.

The next phase aimed at involving trained civil society organizations in the project activities will be announcing a call for sub-granting, which will allow regional organizations to apply for funds to carry out activities related to implementing the DCFTA/SME communication campaign and to advise regional small and medium entrepreneurs on the DCFTA.

In addition to the training, an introductory session of the DCFTA Local Advisory Council (LAC) was conducted. Starting in May 2018, regular meetings of public officials, civil society and SME representatives will take place in Kakheti region. The aim of LAC is to provide a venue for the above-mentioned parties to discuss DCFTA implementation in Kakheti and to work together so that the region can take full advantage of DCFTA-provided opportunities. Eight public officials and a similar number of local small and medium businesses joined the introductory session and expressed interest to attend future LAC meetings.

"Georgia on the European Way" Project Consortium Represented at the Workshop in Brussels prior the EU - EaP Summit.

on 23 Nov : 22:30

On November 23, 2017 a Project Coordinators from the consortium organization GLOBSEC – Jan Cingel participated as a speaker at the workshop entitled “Quo Vadis Eastern Partnership: A Retrospective Look into the Future” in Brussels. The workshop took place on the eve of the EU – EaP countries Summit and its goal was to discuss various aspects and achievements of the EaP as a policy, including the 20 Deliverables for 2020. During his introductory remarks at the workshop’s 2nd panel, Jan Cingel spoke about the findings of this project when discussing the EU’s support for SME development in EaP countries, highlighting the Georgian example. The event was organized jointly by the EaP Civil Society Forum Secretariat, Europeum and SFPA within the Think Visegrád – V4 Think Tank Network and with the support of the International Visegrád Fund, Open Society Foundation, European Endowment for Democracy and EU’s Europe for Citizens Programme.

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