Inter-organizational Small Business Committee established

On October 9, several international organizations and business associations gathered in the office of Amcham-Georgia to discuss the first steps towards creating an Inter-organizational Small Business Committee (SME Committee).

Overall goal for setting up the Committee is to provide for increased efforts in the growth and development of Georgia’s SME sector, encourage the government’s as well as associated international and business organizations’ support.    

The founders of the Committee include EU-Georgia Business Council (EUGBC), Amcham-Georgia, Civil Movement "Solidarity”, UNDP Global Compact Project, International Association of Business and Parliament, Business and Economic Center, others. The Committee is open to other interested parties.      

It was agreed that the Inter-organizational Small Business Committee will focus on promoting necessary reforms through:
-         Enhanced collaboration among government organizations, international institutions, financial organizations and small entrepreneurs, in order to leverage existing resources and increase capacity for business start-ups and development; Identification and engagement of key government and private or civil society organizations that can play a role in improving the coordination and effectiveness of programs serving small business development.
-         Regular meetings and discussions, research and analysis of the present situation and international experience to provide comprehensive recommendations and policy alternatives oriented to improving business climate for small entrepreneurs.
-         Assessing the strengths and weaknesses of existing economic policies.
-         Encouragement of all business-serving government agencies to participate in public dialogue.

Small Business Committee will work on the policy papers that will create number of benefits for small enterprises. Minding the present situation in Georgia, big part of the Committee endeavor should be oriented, but not limited, to the reforms aiming at:
-         Improvement of business climate for SMEs;
-         Improvement of skills of small entrepreneurs;
-         Facilitation of investments in human resources, as well as in research and development;
-         Improvement business productivity of SMEs;
-         Development of necessary infrastructure;
-         Advancement of accessibility to finances;
-         Reduction of unfair competition;
-         Improvement of consumer protection;
-         Realization of economic potential of small businesses to reach new markets and to contribute to overall economic development in Georgia.

One of the primary plans of the Committee will be to create inside the Government of Georgia the contact point for small businesses and stakeholders, which will serve as the lobbyist of small business interests on every level, to establish the permanent consultations with small entrepreneurs, to create tools for listening to Georgia’s SMEs and inform businesses about future legislative changes at the early stage of elaboration of new policies, laws and regulations.

It was initially agreed that Georgian Ministry of Finance and several relevant committees of the Georgian Parliament will permanently be included in the Committee consultations.   

The participants of the meeting underlined the value of having EUGBC as a founding member of the Committee. It was stressed that through its projects and activities (publications, seminars) the council has acquired considerable experience in educating and training SMEs, and has a vast capacity to contribute to the Committee.