Representatives of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) are visiting Batumi today to see the progress of the business assistance initiative in the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. Head of the Ajara Government Levan Varshalomidze, UNDP Deputy Resident Representative Sophie Kemkhadze and Economic Development Team Leader Giorgi Nanobashvili will hand over certificates to the six successful businesses graduated from the Batumi Business Incubator. The Batumi Business Incubator offers technical support and consultancy to the emerging entrepreneurs in Ajara. Forty local companies have benefited from business consultation and advice since 2009 and another 75 attended specialised seminars and training sessions. Seventeen small companies received a full package of the incubator services, including an office space and business tutoring. Six out the seventeen have successfully completed the incubation cycle and will continue their businesses independently. The event at the Batumi Business Incubator will host the presentation of the Ajara Exporter-Importer Guidebook which provides information on the legal, commercial and operational aspects of foreign trade. The guidebook is published by the Trade Promotion Centre established with assistance from UNDP to help position local companies at the national and international markets of goods and services. Since September 2011, the Centre has provided training to 60 local businessmen. The vocational college Black Sea will present the results of the labour market survey undertaken with assistance from UNDP. The research examines development trends in tourism and services, and includes a package of recommendations for service providers and the government. Based on the research results, the vocational college Black Sea will be offering educational and retraining courses in most demanded vocations, such as waiter and IT specialist. UNDP is assisting the college to develop teaching programmes and up-to-date textbooks, and to launch retraining courses for teachers. The assistance to Ajara businesses is part of UNDP’s larger initiative which aims to encourage sustainable economic growth in the region and is funded by the Government of Finland. In 2012, UNDP will closely work with the Ajara Ministry of Agriculture to set up an effective system of agriculture extension for local farmers and with the Ajara Tourism Agency for promoting local tourism with up-to-date Information and Communication Technologies.

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