
ISET Policy Institute’s Lead Economist Mariam Lobjanidze participated in the Eighth CAREC Think Tank Development Forum on August 27-28, 2024, in Almaty, Kazakhstan. Organized by the Central Asia Regional Economic Cooperation Institute (CI), this annual event serves as a flagship knowledge exchange platform under the CAREC Think Tank Network (CTTN).

The project, Cost-Benefit Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation Options in Selected Sectors in Georgia, supports the World Bank’s Country Climate and Development Report (CCDR) by providing an in-depth analysis of the agriculture and tourism sectors.

The underrepresentation of women in entrepreneurship in Georgia is a significant problem that disproportionately affects women’s ability to start and to sustain businesses. Despite legislative efforts and economic strategies intended to enhance the business environment, women face considerable challenges, such as limited access to finance, which hamper their ability to start and grow businesses.

In July, the Polarization Index saw another rise, marked by significant events such as the United States indefinitely postponing the "Worthy Partner 2024" military exercise, President Salome Zurabishvili returning a package of amendments related to the Pension Law to Parliament, and the President's appointment of a non-judge member to the Supreme Council of Justice, who the court later suspended. Conversely, the index experienced a decrease during periods of opposition party unification and notable performances by Georgian athletes in the Olympics.

The goal of this study is to provide the UNDP Inclusive Access to Markets (IA2M) project with the selection of at least six sectors/subsectors in the Georgian economy where small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have established or potential opportunities for exporting to the European Union (EU) and European countries.