Tbilisi. According to information of the United Nations Women’s Fund, companies that signed Women’s Empowerment Principles in Georgia, plan new initiatives to support women. “These initiatives take into account an important role of women entrepreneurs in the economy of the country and negative impact that COVID-19 is going to have on both entrepreneur and other women living in the country. One of the companies that has taken steps in this direction is “Georgian Audit Company”. It signed Women’s Empowerment Principles in January 2020. At the end of February, when there was confirmed the first case of COVID-19 in Georgia, the company announced publicly that it was offering free taxpayer services to women entrepreneurs. In March, 23 women took advantage of this service”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: georgia.unwomen.org

Tbilisi. Transparency International - Georgia publishes a blog post: Economic dependence of Georgia on Russia: Trends and threats. “A lot of researchers consider that economic dependence of Georgia on Russia is dangerous as Russia has repeatedly used economic tools against Georgia over the last 15 years. For example, in 2006 Russia first cut off natural gas and electricity supplies, then actually restricted export of products from Georgia to Russia. At the end of the year they started deportation of Georgian citizens. While after developments of June 20, 2019, flights from Russia to Georgia were canceled, which is still in force. Therefore, it is important to know what the level and trend of dependence of Georgia on Russia is. Transparency International - Georgia has explored those key areas where the economy of Georgia is significantly depended on Russia. These areas are: foreign trade, tourism and money transferred by immigrants”. Read more… Source: transparency.ge

Tbilisi. The Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a blog post: Russian propaganda and COVID-19 - Should Georgia expand trade relations with Russia or not? The blog post serves as a response to an article by Beso Barbakadze, a journalist: “Vital artery of Georgia passes through Russia”. There is stated in the article that on the background of the crisis, occurred due to the Coronavirus, European countries will no longer be able to supply Georgia with the products they used to export until now, and that it is, therefore, important for Georgia to start negotiations with the Russian Federation in regard to expansion of trade relations. “The current situation, as well as past experience, shows that there is a necessity not in enhancement of trade relations directly with Russia and thus in increase of dependence on it, but in diversification of both import and export, so as to make sure that economic stability of the state does not depend on processes ongoing in any other country or it does not become a tool in hands of authorities of another country”. Read more… Source: idfi.ge

As part of the U.S. Government's rapid response to COVID-19, USAID/Georgia is helping the Government of Georgia prepare for a strong economic recovery. Right now, we are providing technical assistance to the Government of Georgia to help it develop a post-COVID recovery plan that focuses on increased employment opportunities. Read more... Source: The U.S. Embassy’s page in a social network

On 22 April, in the context of the fight against the Coronavirus, the European Commission proposed a €150 million macro-financial assistance package to support Georgia. Find out more details in the letter from EU Ambassador Carl Hartzell to Prime Minister Giorgi Gakharia. Read more… Source: EU’s page in a social network

EU announced its global response to support partner countries’ efforts in tackling the coronavirus epidemic by committing to redirect over €15 billion of existing resources. This includes over €183 million for Georgia. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. European Union releases the joint letter addressed to the goverment and people of Georgia. “The COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic crisis is unfolding at an unprecedented pace and has pushed the world economy into a recession. The impact will be worse than the global financial crisis and economic damage is mounting across all countries. As an open economy that relies on tourism, trade, and remittances, Georgia is particularly vulnerable to this pandemic.  To overcome this pandemic, we need a coordinated health, social, and economic policy response. We, the Asian Development Bank, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, the European Union and the European Investment Bank, the Federal Republic of Germany through KfW, the French Republic through the Agence française de Développement, the International Monetary Fund, and the World Bank Group are working together to ensure rapid support to Georgia and are currently discussing a substantial financial relief package to help the authorities respond effectively to this unprecedented crisis. Many other development partners are similarly preparing support packages for the people of Georgia. As Georgia’s Coat of Arms so appropriately puts it, there is truly ‘strength in unity’”. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Assistance of the EU to Georgia means allocation of more than 20 million euros. “More than 70 million euros, earmarked for already existing programs, will also be redirected to overcome the crisis, as well as access to a number of regional funds will be ensured. This is part of a large package of aid intended for the Eastern Partnership, which includes a new assistance in the amount of 140 million euros and redirection of up to 700 million euros as the aid allocated to the Eastern Partnership countries. The EU provides Georgia with also a macro-financial assistance, within the frames of which the funds will be made available as soon as mutually agreed specific actions are taken. The European Commission is ready to support Georgia also through the Technical Assistance and Information Exchange Instrument (TAIEX) in order to evaluate emergency response preparedness schemes and health systems using expert knowledge, experience and good practice examples of the EU member states”, - is stated on the website of the EU. Read more… Source: eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. Here in Georgia, the U.S. Government through USAID will contribute $1.1 million in emergency health assistance. „Delivered in partnership with the World Health Organization and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, this assistance will support Georgia’s efforts to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to help the individuals and communities who are most at risk. Critical public health measures made possible by the new assistance include infection prevention and control, case-finding and event-based surveillance, technical assistance for response and preparedness, strengthened risk communication, and more“. Read more... Source: The organization’s webpage in the social network

With the support of UN Women TASO Foundation is conducting trainings in business management for women entrepreneurs. The training course consists of 55 contact hours and is conducted at the Academy of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. „It is notable that the women entrepreneurs have received small grants for their business development. The initiative is funded within the framework of the project “A joint Action for Women’s Economic Empowerment in Georgia” funded by the government of Norway“, is noted in the statement. Read more… Source: Social network

Ajara. The association “Foreji” opened a trout incubation demonstration farm in the village of Tsoniarisi, Keda Municipality. The initiative is supported by EU and is part of the ENPARD Keda LEADER project implemented by CENN in the municipality.  Within the project, a modern fish incubation demonstration farm has been established. The farm ensures the breeding of healthy and high-quality fish and a sufficient supply of fish to fish farms throughout the year.  Implementation of the project will support and promote the optimal use of the water resources of the Adjara region, develop modern fishery standards, provide a sufficient supply of fish to local fish farms and strengthen existing fisheries in the region.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. EU and UNDP support innovative business ideas for rural municipalities in Ajara.  Forty local entrepreneurs joined a three-day business bootcamp in Chakvi in November, designed to show how to start, run and grow a rural business enterprise, generate creative ideas and find the realistic ways of their implementation. This condensed business exercise was supported by the European Union (EU), under the EU-funded ENPARD programme, in cooperation with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the Government of Ajara Autonomous Republic.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Over 100 representatives of the private companies, business associations and international organizations took part in a stakeholder forum in Tbilisi on 20 November to discuss business development trends in Georgia and a competitive potential of the private sector at the national and EU markets. Read more… Source: The web-page of the organization

Tbilisi. Today, the EU -Funded project “Establishing Efficient Protection and Control System of Geographical Indications (GIs) in Georgia” kicked off at the Sheraton Grand Tbilisi Metechi Palace.  The event marked the start of the Twinning aimed to promote effective quality policy related to geographical indications, to support fair competition and protection of GIs, to improve current situations for the benefit of Georgian population. The objective of the Twinning project is to support the development of “Appellations of Origin (AOs)” and “Geographical Indications (GIs)” systems in Georgia through the creation of effective supporting tools with the provisions of the European Union’s GIs protection system.  Read more…  Source: https://eeas.europa.eu

Tbilisi. EU and Government of Georgia launch new 150 M GEL programme supporting vocational education and labour market development in Georgia.  At a special event held at Gldani Vocational Education and Training Centre, Mikheil Batiashvili, the Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport, Carl Hartzell, EU Ambassador to Georgia and Cesare Onestini, European Training Foundation (ETF) Directorlaunched the second phase of the Skills4Jobs programme in Georgia. Five year programme to assist 105 000 Georgians find jobs by expanding high quality vocation education, improving labour policies, and supporting entrepreneurship training.  Read more…  Source: https://eeas.europa.eu

Samtskhe-Javakheti. Over 100 representatives of public, private and civil society organizations attended the conference, which summarized the results of the EU-supported two-year ENPARD project “Strengthening Rural Development models in Georgia”.  The project, implemented by Mercy Corps, People in Need and CARE Austria, in partnership with the European LEADER Association for Rural Development (ELARD), ran since 2017 and aimed at promoting a community-driven rural development approach in Borjomi, Lagodekhi and Kazbegi municipalities. Through sharing the best European practices in rural development, the project has contributed to the implementation of the EU’s LEADER approach in the three municipalities, where it has helped establish Local Action Groups (LAGs), elaborate Local Development Strategies and provided EU grants to over 200 development initiatives. As a result, throughout the project implementation, more than 600 permanent job opportunities were created in all three municipalities.  Since 2015, in the framework of the EU ENPARD programme in Georgia, eight Local Actions Groups have been created (in Borjomi, Lagodekhi, Kazbebgi, Dedoplistskaro, Tetritskaro, Akhalkalaki, Keda and Khulo municipalities), which, in collaboration with the EU partner organizations, are successfully implementing rural development projects. Up to 400 initiatives have already been funded by EU through their direct involvement country-wide. These initiatives are boosting production and services in the areas of agriculture, tourism, social and rural infrastructure and environment. They have already provided better employment to over 1000 rural households and benefited more than 10,000 people across the country. Currently, the EU’s LEADER methodology is being introduced and Local Action Groups established in four additional municipalities (Akhmeta, Tsalka, Tskaltubo and Mestia).  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kvemo Kartli. In the framework of the EU-supported Employment Shuttle and VET Programme, Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) and the Employment Programs Department of the LEPL Social Service Agency of the Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia, held a VET and Job Fair in the city of Tetritskaro.  The event aimed to connect job seekers from the Kvemo Kartli region to the VET colleges and employer companies. The VET and Job fair was attended by the 11 vocational education colleges, local jobs seekers and 23 employer companies with more than 300 active vacancies, including the representatives of the EU-supported rural development projects implemented by RDFG.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Kakheti. With EU and FAO support local farmer’s sweetcorn goes on sale at Carrefour. Carl Hartzell, Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia and Raimund Jehle, FAO Representative, met with an FAO-ENPARD project beneficiaries on their first day of suppling Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour Georgia with their yield.  Kakheti sweetcorn on sale in supermarket is first success of large scale EU-FAO project aiming at increasing Georgian farmer productivity and income through modern methods and connecting producers with retailers.  Read more…  Source: http://enpard.ge

Ajara. EU Supports the Adoption of Economic Development Plan for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo Municipalities.  Over 50 representatives of public, private and civil society sectors gathered in Batumi, Adjara to discuss Economic Development Plans for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities. The document was prepared with EU support under “Mayors for Economic Growth” project, with the assistance from ENPARD’s ongoing rural development projects in Keda and Khulo and active involvement of Local Action Groups (LAGs).  The aim of the Economic Development Plans are to realize common interests, coordinate economic development sites between participating municipalities and initiate joint action concerning local economic development.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge

Tbilisi. Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI) publishes a blog post: Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in Georgia.  “This policy brief examines Georgia’s capacity and prospects to join the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), a global standard, which promotes open and accountable management of natural resources. Natural resources can be important drivers of economic growth, at the same time, extractive industries is an area susceptible to corruption and mismanagement. Inefficiency in this sector can lead to dire consequences, can create negative economic, environmental and social impacts in the country”, is noted in the statement.  Read more… Source: idfi.ge

Tbilisi. Human Rights Education and Monitoring Center (EMC) responds to the protest of Tkibuli miners.  “We consider that the complicated situation, occurred in Tkibuli, is the responsibility of the state and it fully reflects condition entailed by complete neglect of toughest challenges faced by the City over the years. This condition threatens the future of not only people employed at shafts but the entire region as well. Despite numerous demands, the state is still missing development plans for Tkibuli and other industrial cities, thus keeping those employed at the company and population of the region in complete uncertainty and ambiguity”, - is stated on the website of the organization. Read more… Source: emc.org.ge

Kvemo Kartli. The launch event of the Adventure-Rope Park and Algeti National Park Visitor’s Center was held along with the official hand-over of equipment to successful grant applicants.  Within the framework of the EU ENPARD Programme RDFG and the Tetritskaro Local Action Group (LAG) successfully completed two phases of the Rural Development Grant Program. Through the given initiative 65 rural development projects have been selected for funding which has raised a co-investment of around 5 million Georgian Lari (35% of which comes from beneficiary contributions). The rural development projects selected to receive support will create job opportunities for over 300 residents of the Tetritskaro Municipality, 40% of whom will be women.  Read more… Source: http://enpard.ge