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ITALIAN GEORGIAN ECONOMIC PROGRAM LEADS TO CONCRETE SUCCESS
By Anna Arzanova
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 10 2005
Italian and American business organizations are optimistic about new
partnerships in Georgia.
With the success of the second Georgian-Italian business forum last
week behind them, the forces behind the Italian-Georgian Economic
Partnership Program (IGEPP) are geared to generate even more business
and business partnerships for entrepreneurs in both countries.
On Thursday, October 6, the Italian Embassy in Georgia and the American
Chamber of Commerce held a joint press conference to announce that
the IGEPP has successfully ended the first stage of the project and
is pleased with its progress to date.
The Italian Ambassador to Georgia, Fabrizio Romano, said that the IGEPP
project was the driving force behind the Georgian-Italian forum that
was held on October 4. "This project was one of the initiatives of
the Italian government that had a very important function: to learn
the prospects of development possibilities," said Romano.
The aim of this project was to reveal which enterprises in Georgia,
with their activities and current structure, are more compatible with
Italian enterprises, as well as to promote industrial cooperation
and trade between Georgia and Italy as part of a larger vision that
identifies Georgia's strategic location between businesses in the
Caucasus and Central Asia.
IGEPP, which will be technically completed in July 2006, is promoted
by the Union of Industrialists of the Province Caserta, in partnership
with its member company EXEN S.p.A., the American Chamber of Commerce
in Georgia and the Georgian Businessmen Federation.
As a result of the information gathered so far, they have identified
and prepared profiles of over 100 Georgian companies all over Georgia.
Filippo Tiburtini, the senior expert of this project, said that the
most concrete and important result of this project to date is the
database of enterprises that "we created ourselves." According to him,
about 150 of the enterprises were discovered, most of which represent
different spheres of business.
"This is strategic information to learn what opportunities [are
available] and directions for possible cooperation with Italian
companies. This gives us a serious [foundation] to move to another
stage and take other serious steps forward," said Tiburtini.
He noted that within the framework of this project, the second stage is
also very important, since a group of Italian businessmen will arrive
in Georgia in the mid October. "These events, particularly the stages
of the projects, are being developed very specifically. The second
important event will be a visit of the Georgian industrialists to Italy
in November who will become acquainted with how the industrial system
in Italy is working. This is a rather progressive project," he added.
Within the project, several Georgian professionals from partner
organizations have been trained to identify and promote cooperation
between Italian and Georgian businesses. To better facilitate
communication between the two countries, the project's working group
has recently held information seminars in Tbilisi-as well as in
regions of Georgia, including Gori, Kakheti and Kutaisi. The group
also plans to travel to Adjara in the near future.
Technical Manager of the project Antonio Limatola thinks that this
initiative will bring positive results and develop well. "I think
that I also will start activity in this region. I am going to supply
Caserta Industrialist Union, mayor of the town and the head of the
region with all the necessary information so they can be initiators
for the development of this project," he stated.
According to Amy Denman, the Executive Director of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, the first stage of the IGEPP was
very successful. "Probably three of our members have begun to
create partnerships with Italian companies. I think often many of
these forums are a lot of talk. This forum-and building up to this
forum-was interesting because I have seen concrete partnerships
formed," she stated.
According to her, even if one partnership is formed, the project
will be successful, and she is sure that there will be more than one
partnership in Georgia. "Measured in terms of new business, it is a
big success," Denman noted.
She added that while the actual impact of the program on Georgia's
economy will depend on investors in Georgia, she believes there is
the potential that it will be good for the business community. "I
do want to say that any time we see potential manufacturing direct
investment we are very happy. If anyone does want to come to Georgia
for manufacturing purposes we consider this as a very big success,"
Denman stated on October 6.
The IGEPP plans to expand to Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to
familiarize local entrepreneurs with the project mission and goals.
They plan to hold a seminar in the capital cities of each republic
before taking the project to Italy where it will be completed in May
2006. The IGEPP was launched in November 2004.
By Anna Arzanova
The Messenger, Georgia
Oct 10 2005
Italian and American business organizations are optimistic about new
partnerships in Georgia.
With the success of the second Georgian-Italian business forum last
week behind them, the forces behind the Italian-Georgian Economic
Partnership Program (IGEPP) are geared to generate even more business
and business partnerships for entrepreneurs in both countries.
On Thursday, October 6, the Italian Embassy in Georgia and the American
Chamber of Commerce held a joint press conference to announce that
the IGEPP has successfully ended the first stage of the project and
is pleased with its progress to date.
The Italian Ambassador to Georgia, Fabrizio Romano, said that the IGEPP
project was the driving force behind the Georgian-Italian forum that
was held on October 4. "This project was one of the initiatives of
the Italian government that had a very important function: to learn
the prospects of development possibilities," said Romano.
The aim of this project was to reveal which enterprises in Georgia,
with their activities and current structure, are more compatible with
Italian enterprises, as well as to promote industrial cooperation
and trade between Georgia and Italy as part of a larger vision that
identifies Georgia's strategic location between businesses in the
Caucasus and Central Asia.
IGEPP, which will be technically completed in July 2006, is promoted
by the Union of Industrialists of the Province Caserta, in partnership
with its member company EXEN S.p.A., the American Chamber of Commerce
in Georgia and the Georgian Businessmen Federation.
As a result of the information gathered so far, they have identified
and prepared profiles of over 100 Georgian companies all over Georgia.
Filippo Tiburtini, the senior expert of this project, said that the
most concrete and important result of this project to date is the
database of enterprises that "we created ourselves." According to him,
about 150 of the enterprises were discovered, most of which represent
different spheres of business.
"This is strategic information to learn what opportunities [are
available] and directions for possible cooperation with Italian
companies. This gives us a serious [foundation] to move to another
stage and take other serious steps forward," said Tiburtini.
He noted that within the framework of this project, the second stage is
also very important, since a group of Italian businessmen will arrive
in Georgia in the mid October. "These events, particularly the stages
of the projects, are being developed very specifically. The second
important event will be a visit of the Georgian industrialists to Italy
in November who will become acquainted with how the industrial system
in Italy is working. This is a rather progressive project," he added.
Within the project, several Georgian professionals from partner
organizations have been trained to identify and promote cooperation
between Italian and Georgian businesses. To better facilitate
communication between the two countries, the project's working group
has recently held information seminars in Tbilisi-as well as in
regions of Georgia, including Gori, Kakheti and Kutaisi. The group
also plans to travel to Adjara in the near future.
Technical Manager of the project Antonio Limatola thinks that this
initiative will bring positive results and develop well. "I think
that I also will start activity in this region. I am going to supply
Caserta Industrialist Union, mayor of the town and the head of the
region with all the necessary information so they can be initiators
for the development of this project," he stated.
According to Amy Denman, the Executive Director of the American
Chamber of Commerce in Georgia, the first stage of the IGEPP was
very successful. "Probably three of our members have begun to
create partnerships with Italian companies. I think often many of
these forums are a lot of talk. This forum-and building up to this
forum-was interesting because I have seen concrete partnerships
formed," she stated.
According to her, even if one partnership is formed, the project
will be successful, and she is sure that there will be more than one
partnership in Georgia. "Measured in terms of new business, it is a
big success," Denman noted.
She added that while the actual impact of the program on Georgia's
economy will depend on investors in Georgia, she believes there is
the potential that it will be good for the business community. "I
do want to say that any time we see potential manufacturing direct
investment we are very happy. If anyone does want to come to Georgia
for manufacturing purposes we consider this as a very big success,"
Denman stated on October 6.
The IGEPP plans to expand to Armenia and Azerbaijan in order to
familiarize local entrepreneurs with the project mission and goals.
They plan to hold a seminar in the capital cities of each republic
before taking the project to Italy where it will be completed in May
2006. The IGEPP was launched in November 2004.