International Business Forum in Kutaisi, Georgia, demonstrates that partnerships between actors, sectors, and countries are key to success

10 May 2019

On 2-3 May 2019, the International Business Forum “In Search of a Golden Fleece” took place in Kutaisi, Georgia. The event was organized by the Kutaisi City Municipality with the support of key international development donors, including the “Mayors for Economic Growth” (M4EG) Initiative.

The Forum gathered together around 100 participants, representing line ministries, state and municipal authorities of Georgia, diplomatic representations to Georgia, interested business entities, as well as delegates from Ukraine, Israel, Poland, Moldova, Belarus, and other countries.

The participants of the Business Forum attended the plenary meetings and participated in discussions based on their fields of interest, which covered such topics as business opportunities in Kutaisi, strengthening women participation in economic activity, promoting trade with the EU. Kutaisi City Municipality also presented its investment potential and existing interesting business offers. The M4EG Secretariat presided over the dedicated panel on “business-friendly” municipalities, which featured some successful M4EG Signatories from other countries sharing their experience on the types of support that a municipality can provide to its economic actors.

The International Business Forum was initiated as a key supporting activity to promote local economic development, in the frameworks of Local Economic Development Plan (LEDP) of the Kutaisi Municipality. In turn, the LEDP was developed in the frames of the EU Initiative “Mayors for Economic Growth”.