On May 16, 2018, Association of Business Consulting Organizations of Georgia (ABCO) organized and facilitated its second regional DCFTA Local Advisory Council (LAC) meeting, this time in Samtskhe-Javalketi region. LAC event was held in regional centre – Akhaltsikhe, at the venue of the local CSO – “Democrat Meskh’s Union”. LAC meeting was attended by total 16 members, among whom 7 represented local CSOs, 5 persons represented SMEs and farmers 4 participants represented local State administration from different municipalities of the region, including staff of the state Informational-Consultation Centers (ICCs). The participants of the LAC representing the Samtskhe - Javakheti region identified following four sub-sectors as the most prospective from the point of view of export and local development significance: cattle-breeding, potato production, beekeeping and handcraft. The LAC members managed to assess problems and constraints within these 4 sub-sectors and then they discussed and suggested recommendations on how to address these problems and hindrances existing in prospective sub-sectors. These recommendations are meant for the meeting of the Central Advisory Council later in Tbilisi, where representatives of LACs will discuss their suggestions with experts from relevant state institutions with the aim to improve the situation in identified sub-sectors.
