Georgian Almond and Walnut Producers Showcase Their Products at MEWA INDIA 2025 with TBC’s Support

Eight companies, all members of the Almond and Walnut Producers Association, participated in the international exhibition MEWA INDIA 2025 in Mumbai, India, with the support of TBC.

For the first time, Georgian walnut producers, organized by the association, presented their products collectively at an international exhibition.

During the visit, the Almond and Walnut Producers Association established connections with potential buyers in the Indian market and signed a memorandum of cooperation with the exhibition organizer—the Indian Dry Fruits and Walnuts Council.

Participation in MEWA INDIA 2025 significantly boosted global awareness of Georgian almonds and walnuts. Interested buyers had the opportunity to taste Georgian kakleuli on-site.

Notably, Georgia has strong potential to supply the Indian market with almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts. Compared to American almonds and Chilean walnuts, Georgian products can reach India much faster and at a lower logistical cost.

MEWA INDIA, an international exhibition dedicated to dried fruits and nuts, was held for the second time.

TBC Supports the Growth of Winter Sports: Svaneti Freeride Week Junior Successfully Held in Mestia

With the support of TBC, the Svaneti Freeride Week Junior one-star tournament successfully took place in Mestia on February 13. For the second consecutive year, TBC has actively supported and encouraged young Georgian freeriders, reinforcing its commitment to winter sports development.

The competition was held on Mount Zhuruldi, bringing together young athletes across three age categories. The awards ceremony took place in the sports village set up in Mestia Park, where winners and medalists were honored with prizes. Spectators and winter sports enthusiasts followed the event on a large screen installed in the village, while also enjoying local handmade products and traditional Svaneti cuisine.

Winners of Svaneti Freeride Week Junior:

U14 Snowboard:
Demetre Ioseliani (Gold)

U14 Ski:
Nikoloz Gvarliani (Gold)
Aleksandre Metreveli (Silver)
Aleksandre Khergiani (Bronze)

U16 Ski:

Rezi Japaridze (Gold)
Nikoloz Nakani (Silver)
Kakhuna Goshteliani (Bronze)

U18 Ski:
Saba Mchedliani (Gold)
Rezi Chekhani (Silver)
Datuna Ratiani (Bronze)

Svaneti Freeride Week Junior provided young Georgian athletes with the opportunity to showcase their skills on an international stage. The development of winter sports and tourism, along with the support of young athletes and their professional careers, remains a key priority for TBC. It is inspiring to see the tournament grow in scale, interest, and participation each year.

TBC’s commitment to winter sports continues in 2024. On March 20, the next stage of Freeride Week Junior will take place in Gudauri, further strengthening Georgia’s freeride community.

Borjgalosnebi Secure World Cup Spot and Dominate the Rugby European Championship

The Georgian national rugby union team has successfully completed the group stage of the Rugby European Championship with a decisive victory over Spain, securing first place in the group. This achievement not only grants them the right to host the semi-finals and final but also confirms their qualification for the 2027 Rugby World Cup.

Borjgalosnebi dominated Group A, winning all three matches—against Switzerland, the Netherlands, and Spain—with commanding leads and bonus points, accumulating a total of 15 points.

The away match against Spain saw several historic moments. Davit Niniashvili captained the team for the first time, becoming the 36th captain in Georgia’s rugby history. Meanwhile, in the 45th minute, Aka Tabutsadze scored his 46th try for the national team, placing him among the top 10 try scorers in world rugby. With this record, Tabutsadze equaled New Zealand legends Julian Savea, Christian Cullen, and Joe Rokocoko.

Following this victory, Georgia extended its lead over Wales in the World Rugby rankings. Richard Cockerill’s squad gained an additional 0.84 points thanks to their 10-try performance against Spain, bringing their total to 74.69 points—now 0.94 points ahead of Wales.

The semi-final of the Rugby European Championship will take place on March 2 in Tbilisi, where Borjgalosnebi will face their long-standing rivals, Romania. In the other semi-final, Portugal will meet Spain. Should Georgia advance to the final, they will once again have the advantage of playing on home soil.

This year marks a decade since TBC became the main supporter and partner of Georgian rugby. Along with celebrating past achievements, TBC remains committed to fostering the future growth and development of the sport.

Additionally, 2024 will be a landmark year for Georgian rugby as, for the first time in history, the national seven-a-side team will compete in the 12-team European elite tournament. With new challenges ahead, Borjgalosnebi are ready to make history once again.

#WeWinTogether

Max Groom: A Premier Grooming Salon for Pets, Supported by TBC Business

In today’s world, caring for our four-legged companions is easier and more diverse than ever. Pets are cherished members of our families, and we dedicate just as much effort to their well-being and grooming as we do to our own.

For the past two years, Max Groom—a specialized grooming salon offering comprehensive services for pets—has been committed to this mission. The salon provides a stress-free environment, high-quality service, and professional grooming expertise. At Max Groom, the focus is on creating a comfortable and welcoming experience for pets, their owners, and the staff alike, ensuring continuous growth and development.

According to Elene Pataraia, the founder of Max Groom, the salon has always been more than just a business. “We work with living beings whose health and beauty are entrusted to us—a responsibility we take very seriously. Every satisfied customer is a testament to our success.”

The launch of Max Groom was made possible with the support of TBC Business, which played a key role in bringing Elene’s vision to life.

Looking ahead, Max Groom plans to expand, continuing its commitment to excellence in pet care.

TBC x Amazon Web Services: Advancing Tech Education Through Partnership

TBC is a leading technology company committed to strengthening the tech ecosystem. A key initiative in this mission is the TBC IT Academy, where industry-leading professionals from TBC serve as lecturers, ensuring a hands-on and practical learning experience.

One of the most sought-after courses at TBC IT Academy is the DevOps program, designed to closely resemble a real work environment. To enhance practical training, a dedicated test lab has been created, mirroring TBC’s actual IT infrastructure and allowing students to engage in real-world tasks.

The course has gained even more value through a strategic partnership with Amazon Web Services (AWS). This collaboration was spearheaded by Giorgi Kacharava (SRE Lead), Saba Sakvarelidze (CloudOps Engineer), and Giorgi Semenikhin (Cloud Engineer at TBC Group)—who also serve as instructors for the program.

AWS is one of TBC’s key technology partners, hosting a significant portion of the company’s cloud infrastructure. Given AWS’s status as the most widely used cloud platform, the DevOps course includes in-depth training on AWS technologies. Students at TBC IT Academy now have the unique opportunity to learn directly from AWS experts and gain hands-on experience with industry-leading cloud solutions.

“We have integrated AWS infrastructure into the TBC IT Academy learning environment. This allows students to explore AWS services, apply their theoretical knowledge in real-time, and work on challenges they would encounter in a professional setting,” says Giorgi Semenikhin, Cloud Engineer at TBC Group.

For an in-depth look at the technical aspects of the lab, click here.

As part of this partnership, another exciting initiative has been introduced—AWS Gameday. The first phase of this program will take place on March 1, exclusively for TBC IT Academy students and TBC employees, providing an immersive, hands-on learning experience.

TBC Leasing Honored for Advancing Sustainable Financing

On February 19, the seventh annual Corporate Sustainability Award – Business for Sustainable Development ceremony took place, organized by the UN Global Compact Georgia Network. TBC Leasing was recognized in the SDG17 “Partnership for Sustainable Development – Partnership Projects/Sustainable Financing” category for its efforts in launching solar photovoltaic projects, supported by a credit line from the Green Growth Fund (GGF).

The jury, composed of local and international experts, particularly commended TBC Leasing’s long-term sustainability strategy, which focuses on financing eco-friendly and sustainable projects.

This year, the event adopted a new format, incorporating panel discussions featuring representatives from the winning companies, the diplomatic corps, and international organizations. Discussions were structured around three core themes: governance and partnerships, environmental protection, and social issues.

Leasing, by its very nature, is a green financing mechanism, enabling businesses to invest in modern, energy-efficient equipment that minimizes resource consumption. A substantial portion of TBC Leasing’s portfolio is dedicated to environmental protection and renewable energy projects, including solar panels and small hydroelectric power plants. The company actively promotes the financing of energy-efficient assets in the agricultural and industrial sectors. As of 2024, its green portfolio has reached 40 million GEL.

“We are honored to receive the Corporate Sustainability Award. Thanks to the support of our long-term partners, we have expanded access to green and responsible financing, helping local SMEs strengthen and scale their sustainable initiatives. As Georgia’s leading leasing company, our goal is to broaden our product offerings, providing SMEs with alternative financing solutions to drive their business growth,” said Gaga Gogua, Director of T