Trade Fair Assistance for Georgian SMEs

Join the “Trade Fair Assistance for Georgian SMEs” program and unlock new opportunities for your fashion, kidswear or leather accessories business. This comprehensive program equips you with the knowledge and tools to showcase your products at prestigious international trade fairs, helping you expand your market reach and build valuable global connections.

Program supports Georgian SMEs to take full advantage of international trade fairs and B2B events. To boost their sales to EU and European countries’ markets  and Empower Georgian SMEs to become exporters to the EU and European countries’ markets.

The “Trade Fair Assistance for Georgian SMEs” program will prepare you for international trade fairs and B2B events. With the assistance of international trainers and mentors, you will create a comprehensive International Trade Fair plan that you will execute and improve throughout the program.

Watch our video for an overview of the Trade Fair Assistance program, highlighting key benefits and features. Watch the Program Info Video Here

The Program

Prior to the program, all participants will carry out a self-assessment and take an Export readiness test. This is accompanied by face-to-face meetings with mentors, assessing products, pricing, collection structure, and product development speed.

To plan for future international trade fairs and B2B events, all participants will participate in thematic workshops and receive one-on-one mentoring from international trainers, helping them to develop a comprehensive Trade Fair plan and strategy for international markets.

Schedule

Phase 1 – Creating a comprehensive Trade Fair Plan

• 10. September 2024: Official kick-off meeting in Tbilisi where you will get to know your cohort members and also be introduced to our online learning platform, Talent LMS. (1hr)
• 10. September 2024: Workshop #1 in Tbilisi “How to get maximum out of trade fair? Trade fair preparation.” (3 hr)
• 11-19 September 2024: A team of international mentors will carry out site visits, assessing products, pricing, collection structure, and product development speed.
• 20. September 2024: Workshop #2 in Tbilisi “How to choose the right market? Marketing strategies.” (3 hr)
• 23. September – 4. October 2024: A team of mentors will provide individual assistance in market research and aid in developing a trade fair strategy.
• Date TBC October 2024: Online workshop #3 “Understanding buyer expectations and needs analyses” (3 hr)
• Date TBC October 2024: Online workshop #4 “Negotiation skills.” (3 hr)
• Date TBC October 2024: Online workshop #5 “Cultural awareness.” (3 hr)

Phase 2 – Providing assistance on Trade Fair Plan implementation at thematic trade fairs

In the next stage of the program, we will join the participants at the chosen thematic international trade fair and provide our expertise and assistance on-site.

Chosen Traide fair for children’s clothing:
Pitti Immagine Bimbo (Florence) 21.-23. Jan 2025 or Playtime Paris 25.-27. Jan 2025 (attendance of the trade fair is self-funded by the attending company).

• Visionest Institute will carry out a post-event evaluation and feedback session on site (including recommendations for future participation in trade fairs and missions) and a follow-up workshop.
• February 2025. Online workshop. Knowledge-sharing sessions “What did we learn from Pitti Immagine and Playtime Paris fairs?”

Chosen B2B event for the Fashion sector:Paris Fashion Week taking place in March 2025 (attendance of the trade fair is self-funded by the attending company).

• Visionest Institute will carry out on-site post-event evaluation session on site, feedback (including recommendations for future participation in trade fairs and missions), and a follow-up workshop.
• March 2025 Online workshop. Knowledge-sharing sessions “What did we learn from Fashion Week?”

Leather accessories B2B event: Dates will be confirmed as soon as possible.

• Date TBC April 2025:  Online Delivery of collaboration and knowledge-sharing sessions. “How to improve trade fair results by learning from the others? Planning for the next Trade Fair.”

• How to strategically prepare for trade fairs to maximise business opportunities.
• How to identify and select suitable markets and develop effective marketing strategies.
• How to understand buyer behavior and needs, enabling them to tailor their offerings accordingly.
• How to acquire advanced negotiation techniques for achieving mutually beneficial agreements.
• How to navigate cultural differences and build strong cross-cultural relationships.
• How to manage post-event communications.

The program consists of various workshops as well as 1:1 mentoring, business analyses.

the combination of thematic workshops, personalised mentoring, and thorough needs assessments of the SMEs company needs and desired markets will give SMEs the knowledge, skills, and strategies necessary to succeed in international markets.

Total volume of the program  will be  48 hours and that will be divided as follows:

• onboarding session (1 hrs)
• 2 active learning sessions in person (8 hrs)
• 6 workshops online (24 hrs)
• 1 active post event evaluation (4 hrs)
• 1:1 mentoring sessions (1 hrs)
• Interdependent work on Trade fair plan (10 hr)

 

Participants are expected to participate in all on site and online training and mentoring sessions.

The training is supported by the e-learning environment at Talent LMS

This program is organised and implemented by Visionest Institute (EST), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Georgia, and the Estonian Centre of International Development (ESTDEV).

Program is implemented in close collaboration with Enterprise Georgia.

Total of 50 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) from Apparel sector will be selected focusing on fashion, Kids Clothing and Leather.

Minimum requirements for the companies:
20 companies from Fashion
20 companies from Kids wear
10 companies from Leather accessories
At least 5 employees and a maximum of 250 employees.
Annual turnover not exceeding 60 million GEL.
At least 2 participants committed to the program.

Participants will be selected in corporation of UNDP, Enterprise Georgia, ESTDEV and Visionest Institute.

Upon completion of the training, a certificate or notice will be issued. A Notice of participation in continuing education will be issued if the participant did not achieve positively evaluated results and/or independent work during the training, thus not achieving the learning outcomes. A certificate will be issued if the learning outcomes were assessed and the participant achieved them.