The largest exhibition and sale dedicated to women entrepreneurs in Georgia took place on 13–14 September, bringing together more than 200 local businesswomen at Expo Georgia. Now in its fourth year, the event was organized by UN Women with the support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD) and the European Union.
The exhibition featured a wide variety of products, from food, wine and beverages to handicrafts, decor, accessories, toys and beauty items. Many of the participating entrepreneurs represented marginalized groups, including women who had experienced gender-based violence, residents of high-mountain regions, and refugees from Ukraine. This year, a strong emphasis was placed on eco-friendly and recycled products.
The event also offered family-friendly spaces, including educational and entertainment activities for children, as well as areas for food and music, making it both a marketplace and a community gathering.
High-ranking guests included Belen Sanz Luque, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia; Nicolas Sendrowicz, Head of Cooperation at the EU Delegation to Georgia; Bergljot Hovland, Ambassador of Norway to Georgia; and Alkis Vryenios Drakinos, Regional Director for the Caucasus at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development.
Alongside the exhibition, a panel discussion on financial inclusion highlighted the role of banks and microfinance institutions in expanding women’s access to economic opportunities.
The initiative was carried out under the UN Women project ‘Good Governance for Gender Equality in Georgia’, funded by the Government of Norway. In addition to NORAD and the EU, the exhibition was held in partnership with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), Asian Development Bank (ADB), GIZ, TBC Bank, Crystal Microfinance, MBC Microfinance, the Georgian Farmers’ Association, Business and Technology University and Expo Georgia.
