On March 2, 2011 Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development together with Georgian National Investment Agency conducted a meeting with the leadership of leading Georgian Universities and came up with a new initiative – a business project for students. In the frames of the project students from different Georgian universities will prepare projects on topics that will be chosen by the organizers beforehand.
The following universities will participate at the initial stage of the project: Free University, International Black Sea University, Caucasian School of Business, Iv. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, University of Georgia, Georgian-American University.
The details of the business project were discussed by the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia and the rectors. The participants of the meeting noted that the project will be a great experience for students. Vera Kobalia said that the project will be continued in the future and other Georgian universities will also have the opportunity to participate.
As Keti Bochorishvili, director of Georgian National Investment Agency noted the aim of the project is to allow students create business projects which will help investors receive firsthand information about the sectors they are interested in. These projects will be helpful to the National Investment Agency to offer investors concrete projects and interest them.
The Ministry will offer priority topics for development to the universities and the universities will have to create a team for each project (each university must create 3 teams,) and the teams will present the projects. The teams will be composed of only senior students. Each group will also have a mentor with practical experience.
The students will be given Cases to make research and will be provided with detailed information about general situation on the market, general directions for business operations and skills necessary for completing the project.
Tourism, export promotion, local production and other topics are the themes for the contest. The students will have to work on the following cases:
1. Akhtala Case-“Akhtala Resort” LTD is a recreation resort complex, which is located on Tsivgombori range, Gurjaani, East Georgia. The healing mud of Akhtala contains three main components: liquid mud, crystal part and colloidal mixture.
2. Vartsikhe Case-“Vartsikhe” LTD is located in Kutaisi, in the midst of Baghdati, 500 meters away from Riv. Kvirila Bridge. It has 4 800 sq.m. land in Vartsikhe village. Its main activity is receiving and processing grapes, and selling different alcoholic beverages. Vartsikhe wine factory operates since 1908. It produces several sorts of wine and cognac alcohol.
3. Natural gas high-pressure metal factory Case- Natural gas high-pressure metal factory is located in Vaziani, Gardabani region. Its main part is the capital building with the area of 1008 sq.m. Transportation of different auto and mechanical devices is possible in the factory. Administrative building and thermal section are located in one of the wings. There are also auxiliary buildings in the complex with the area of 254.66 sq.m. Automobiles are switched to gas engines throughout the whole world.
4. Georgian Product Case- This is a free topic. The students will chose a product and promote it for export. The product must be from agro-business.
The completed projects will be evaluated by a commission of invited experts and representatives of Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development. Main evaluation criteria will be the financial side of the project, creativity, general quality of the research.
Students are expected to make the presentation of the projects by May 15, 2011. The student initiative is supported by Georgian railway.
The Minister plans to meet students in the nearest future and discuss the issues concerning proposed cases.
