Entrepreneurship for Social Inclusion Forum

On the 5^th December 2019 an Entrepreneurship Forum took place at the Sheraton Metekhi Palace Hotel, Tbilisi, Georgia within the framework of the “Economic and Social Participation of Vulnerable Displaced and Local Population in the South Caucasus” (EPIC) programme as implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) in partnership with Action Against Hunger, on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The event showcased new economic and business initiatives by IDPs and the local population and gave the opportunity for beneficiaries to exhibit their products. Guest speakers included the EPIC Programme Director, Friederike Rochowanski (GIZ), German Ambassador to Georgia, Huber Knirsch, Regional Director Action Against Hunger, Marcella Maxfield and successful entrepreneurs who shared their stories and experience with the attendees. The following video is from a news report of the event (English transcript provided below)

Tv Presenters:

Our next story took place yesterday in the Metekhi Palace Hotel under the EPIC program. It was a forum to support vulnerable IDPs and local population in employment and entrepreneurship. The project was implemented by the German International Cooperation Organisation GIZ in cooperation with the international organisation, Action Against Hunger, with support from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ). The main points of the forum were as follows:

Narrator:

“Entrepreneurship for Social Inclusion”, with 200 entrepreneurs participating was organised under the program “Economic and Social Participation of Vulnerable, Displaced and Local Populations in the South Caucasus “. The forum which was held yesterday in Tbilisi aims to present new entrepreneurship initiatives by IDPs and the local population, as well as to hear about their experience in the process.

Friederike Rochowanski (Director of EPIC program (GIZ)):

“This is a forum which aims at the economic and social participation of our population. Beneficiaries and participants of the program have a chance to exhibit their products and present their new entrepreneurship and business initiatives…

Marcella Maxfield (Regional Director of Action Against Hunger):

“This event is organised by the German International Cooperation Organisation and the Economic and Social Participation program is implemented with the support of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.  I think this programme has been a success for Georgia as we discovered so many interesting entrepreneurs. The majority of programme participants have found employment, while others have been supported to further develop their businesses in different ways”.

Narrator:

“The event gives participants of the programme the opportunity to showcase their products. Additionally, successful entrepreneurs were invited to speak at the event to share their success stories and provide mentorship to the new entrepreneurs”.

Hubert Knirsch (German Ambassador to Georgia):

“I am happy to be here at the EPIC program forum. I have gotten to know many of the Georgian entrepreneurs who are gathered here today, and it is pleasing to see beneficiaries from different parts of Georgia – Kakheti, Kutaisi, Batumi. It is great to see such a big turnout, because these kinds of forums give them a chance to develop and grow their business faster, to listen and gain experience from professionals and use it for their own work”.

Narrator:

Under the EPIC program employment and entrepreneurship supportive activities have been held for vulnerable IDPs and local population. With its help 150 participants are now employed and 84 people have been supported to start or develop their business.