JCC webinar on Georgia highlights a market of opportunity

JCC showcased Georgia as part of its “Doing Business” Series with a webinar titled, “Update Georgia: Business Climate, Growth Sectors, Regional Opportunities” on April 14, 2021. The event moderated by Dorit Sallis, Managing Director, JCC opened with welcome statements from H.E. Mr. Revaz Lominadze, Ambassador of Georgia to Switzerland and H.E. Mr. Patric Franzen, Ambassador of Switzerland to Georgia.

Dr. Hans Gutbrod, Regional Representative South Caucasus, German Economic Team & Professor, Ilia State University, Tbilisi, Georgia spoke about the current climate trends and growth sectors. Enterprise Georgia was represented by David Tavlalashvili, Deputy Head of the Investment Department, who examined government support for local and foreign companies in trade and investment. The challenging topic of start-up financing was addressed by Susanne Grossman, Co-Director of FINANCEcontact which manages the SECO Start-Up Fund (SSF). SSF provides funds to Swiss-Georgian joint venture projects.

Two Georgian entrepreneurs who have benefited from Swiss support gave colorful and informative statements about their companies. Mikheil Svimonishvili, Founder and CEO, Margabeli Holdings spoke about the development of his agribusiness company from its first undertaking Nabeghlavi Healthy Water, a Swiss-supported mineral water project. Giorgi Aladashvili, Owner, Marani Ruspiris Vineyard in Kakheti, described his biodynamic approach that he learned from vintners in the Vaud Region of Switzerland. We then got a virtual tour of his vineyard against the backdrop of the Caucasus Mountains.