Export BootCamp in Georgia was a success
Export BootCamp in Georgia was held on 18-20th of October 2021 within the project – ‘Export Design – Increasing the Export Capacity of Design Companies’, funded under the European Union initiative – ‘EU4Business and managed by EUROCHAMBRES.
The study visit was attended by representatives of 12 Georgian and Estonian design SMEs and 4 BSOs of the field (6 SMEs and 2 BSOs from each side). Therefore, representatives of the project’s lead partner – Creative Estonia travelled to Tbilisi, Georgia together with project beneficiaries for the Export BootCamp, which envisaged workshops and seminars as well as studio visits to the Georgian design studios for networking and knowledge sharing purposes.
Seminars were conducted by Georgian experts from the project partner Georgian organisation – Export Development Association (EDA) and Enterprise Georgia on the following topics of ‘Export Cycle’ and ‘International Fair Participation’. EDA expert – Gvantsa Meladze also conducted a workshop for the beneficiaries on ‘Export and Marketing Plan’, where beneficiary BSOs’ representatives provided mentorship. According to Sophia Lapiashvili – founder and owner of the Georgian company “USULI”: “Experts who are mentoring the BootCamp, they are giving quite useful information on how to plan our export”.
Throughout three intensive days of the BootCamp, participants visited several prominent Georgian design studios, such as White Studio, Design Bureau, EthnoDesign, etc. and the project beneficiaries’ workshops. Studio visits gave participants a better idea of the Georgian business culture, its characteristics, and challenges. “I like this cooperation between two countries to share their experiences and to see the difference in approach in business and export” – Pavel Sidorenko, Upstairs Design Studio. Most importantly, networking activities and studio visits created possibilities for SMEs and BSOs to engage with each other and discuss future collaborative ideas.
The next study visit is planned at the beginning of November in Estonia, which is predicted to be as fruitful and useful for the beneficiaries as the Export BootCamp in Georgia. Stay tuned for more information on ‘Export Design’. We will keep you updated!
