TBILISI, 20 November 2019 – Over 100 representatives of private companies, business associations and international organizations gathered in Tbilisi to discuss the role of clusters and networks of small and medium enterprises in unleashing the potential of the private sector and making it more competitive. The forum participants agreed that clustering can trigger benefits, such as cutting supply chain costs, stimulating new businesses in the field, increasing innovation, collaboration and productivity as well as facilitating market access.

The event was opened by the Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture and organized in the framework of the programme on Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia. The programme is funded by the European Union with a budget of six million euros and is implemented by four UN agencies – the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

The UNIDO team presented the results of a national mapping of clusters in Georgia, highlighting 53 potential agglomerations in the manufacturing and agro-processing industry. The organization will now undertake diagnostic studies of eight identified clusters and support Georgia’s Ministry of Environment Protection and Ministry of Economy to support two to three clusters.

Representatives from the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Parliamentary Committee on Diaspora and Caucasus Issues took active parts in the discussions.   

At the working sessions, perspectives on business clustering in the packaging, seedling, manufacturing and agro-industrial sectors were reviewed, as well as the role of Georgian diaspora in making Georgian business more competitive on the European market.

 

See here and here for more about UNIDO’s work on clusters

For more information contact:

Fabio Russo, UNIDO

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