Georgian Diaspora for Development in Kutaisi
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Start date - End date
Brief description of the initiative
This project encouraged entrepreneurship and enhanced entrepreneurship skills by promoting business and management training for people in the city of Kutaisi and in the Georgian diaspora and by supporting Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Kutaisi.
Results and lessons learned
A business helpdesk in which local advisors are able to help employees in all business aspects, has been.operational since May 2010. The major responsibilities and task of the Help Desk include:
- Consulting and management trainings for Small and Middle Business (SME);
- Informing SMEs on modern technologies and supporting the communication with foreign industry experts;
- Consulting on taxation and customs regulations including procedures and permissions; -Informing on state funded projects and available public services;
- Developing the website available for local SMEs for informing the interested businesses in important news and issues.
Status
Key success or innovative factors
With the establishment of the Helpdesk, the linking of the members of the diaspora to provide advices regarding how to set up a SME and providing information to the members of the diaspora on opportunities of investment, the objective of building the capacities of migrants professional associations and highly skilled individual migrants . Also, the Helpdesk as well as the project website will serve as another tool for linking and building partnerships between business people on both sides and beyond.
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Main objectives
The long-term objective of the project was to develop further SMEs in Georgia and promote trade with the Netherlands.
Country
Main activities
1) Create a website and database for Dutch and Georgian SMEs; 2) Create a managerial/entrepreneurial training programme for Georgian professionals; 3) Set up "SME helpdesks" in Kutaisi.
Main beneficiaries
Georgian professionals and Georgian professionals in the diaspora.
Project Pictures
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Project Documents
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On 16-20 February meetings with representatives of SMEs of Kutaisi were organized in Local Democracy Agency Georgia office. Meetings directions were oriented to research management and labor skills of Kutaisi business sector.
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Results of this market research shows a distinct and clear view of business processes of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kutaisi. The outcome of this research will give information and recommendations for the development of the training programs for managers and employees. These training programs are one of the instruments to support the construction of Georgia by developing Entrepreneurship.
The results of this market research provide information about the economical situation of Kutaisi. The research focuses primarily on the business processes of a number of Small and Medium Enterprises in Kutaisi to get a distinct view of all the processes of companies. This enables us to develop a high qualified training program that is in line with the wishes and needs of companies. -
SIGNING OF MEMORANDUM OF PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN KUTAISI LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT, GEORGIA FOUNDATION /GEORGIAN DIASPORA IN NETHERLANDS,
LOCAL DEMOCRACY AGENCY GEORGIA AND KUTAISI REGIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY
27 FEBRUARY 2010, KUTAISI -
MANAGEMENT AND LABOR SKILLS ANALYSIS
MEETING WITH OWNERS, MANAGERS AND EMPLOYEES OF KUTAISI SMEs
LDA GEORGIA OFFICE, 16 - 19 FEBRUARY 2010, KUTAISI -
Within the framework of the project “Georgian Diaspora for Development in Kutaisi” in order to support local entrepreneurship and promote locally produced goods Business Forum “Doing Business Together” has been held in Kutaisi on 28 May, 2011.
The forum was arranged by Georgian Foundation / Georgian Diaspora in the Netherlands and Local Democracy Agency (LDA) Georgia in partnership with Kutaisi Local Self-Government (LSG) and Kutaisi Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
In scope of the forum two events were successfully organized:
1. Presentation of permanent exhibition hall “Expo-Imereti” with exhibition and sales of locally produced goods
2. Business conference with workshops on important business issues.The business forum was officially opened by Metropolitan Kalistrate, the Mayor of Kutaisi Giorgi Tevdoradze, and the executive director of Georgian Foundation / Georgian Diaspora in the Netherlands Marekhi Togonidze.
The participants of the exhibition and the conference were greeted with a warm welcome speech by: Ioseb khakahaleishvili – executive director of LDA Georgia, Malkhaz Chrelashvili – head of the Economic Policy and Strategy Development office in Kutaisi City Hall, Emzar Gvinianidze – the executive director of Kutaisi Regional Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The interesting presentations were provided by the international experts of Dutch consulting companies and Jan Koenraad Veenstra (Brainport Development) and Rob van de Gevel (ECORYS).
Up to 100 representatives of SMEs, commercial banks, Governmental sector and NGOs from Imereti region were participated in the event.