The “AYFB” summarizes interim results of the project “Develop Business”

The “Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen – AYFB” summarizes interim results of the project “Develop Business”. The project, being implemented within the territory Georgia by the joint cooperation of the organization “AYFB” with the company “Beeline”, aims at the promotion of the micro and small business development. The project is being implemented within the frameworks of the social liability campaign - MAKE YOUR MARK – carried out by the owner of the company “Beeline” – the “Vimpelcom”. The campaign is carried out throughout the world and serves to the popularization of the self-employment.
Main goal of the project “Develop Business”, is the promotion of the delivery of the information regarding the Government projects to the beneficiaries. The initial stage of the research has revealed, that the main problem of the micro and small enterprise promotion projects, initiated by the State Institutions , is the difficulty having access to the project information by the beneficiaries themselves. Accordingly, the main goal of the project “Develop Business”, is to help the interested society - micro and small entrepreneurs - get involved in the projects offered by the Government.

At the initial stage of the research, the detailed analysis of the Government Projects and discussion of the specific initiatives offered by the Government in record of the micro and small enterprises, has been provided.

In order to come to certain conclusions and get specific results, the organization actively cooperates with the Entrepreneurship Development Agency of the Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, the Project Management Agency of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia and the Ministry of Finance of Georgia. In this direction, the meetings with the
representatives of the mentioned agencies have been held and the memorandums on cooperation have been concluded.

Within the frameworks of the project “Develop Business”, the representatives of the State Institutions have arranged public presentation and discussion of their projects. The potential beneficiaries were actively involved in the process of discussion as well.

Another main goal , on the first stage of the project implementation, was to identify the problems of micro and small entrepreneurs. The analysis of the problems was carried out both, in the

context of their daily activities as well as in terms of the capacity for being involved in the state projects.
In order to achieve these goals, the meetings with micro and small entrepreneurs were held both, in the capital and in regions. In particular, 3 meetings with the micro and small entrepreneurs operating within the capital were held , where an interesting discussion regarding the engagement in the Government Projects was offered. Meetings and presentations within the frameworks of the project have been arranged in the following regions of the country : Kakheti, Shida Qartli, Qvemo Qartli, Imereti, Guria and Samegrelo. The presentations are scheduled to be held in the near future in Adjara, Racha-lechkhumi, and Mtskheta-mtianeti as well.

As a result of the meetings and discussions with the micro and small entrepreneurs, the following position has been developed _ inadequate terms of reference, lack of information and experience make it difficult for the entrepreneurs to have access to the relevant Government projects.

After the work, carried out by the organization, the key recommendations offered by the Association of Young Financiers and Businessmen are as follows:

– The Government should increase the scope of the information campaign regarding their projects.

– The Government should facilitate participation of micro and small entrepreneurs in their projects, by offering improved, more qualified service to the beneficiaries.

– The Government should increase the involvement of the civil society in their projects.

On the next stage of the implementation of the project “Develop Business”, the practical realization of the results of the first stage, is planned. This time, the organization will arrange representative meetings with micro and small entrepreneurs, where specific opportunities and mechanisms for the involvement in the Government projects are going to be considered.