| On April 2-3, 2018 eighth capacity building trainings for regional civil society organizations took place in Batumi, Adjara 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 Batumi was attended by 29 representatives of numerous civil society organizations, small and medium enterprises and public officials. 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. |
| The training session was well-organized, as information about the training had been been spread using different channels, including social media, e-mail and direct targeting. Trainees were mainly concerned with the existing lack of practical help, general consulting and market researchers in the region. After the training session, the participants also wanted to receive additional information about future activities of this project and about the sub-granting competition. |
| 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) has been introduced as well. Starting from May, 2018, regular meetings of public officials, civil society and SME representatives will be conducted in Adjara region. The meetings are widely considered by potential participants to be very useful for the region as they will help to provide additional information and raise public awareness about economic opportunities related to the DCFTA. |
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