The Deputy Chair of the Regional Policy and Self-Government Committee, Merab Kvaraia held the meeting with NGOs on the occasion of social entrepreneurship development in Georgia.

The meeting was funded by EU Representation and organized by the Center for Strategic Research and Development of Georgia, German International Organization and Education Development and Employment Center. The project aims at promotion of social entrepreneurship implying initiation of new social enterprises and enhancement of existing ones, sharing international experience, development of supportive mechanisms with the state agencies and legal regulation of the issue.

As noted, the initiative group on legal regulation of the issue will entail additional instrument for solution of public issues for the state. Development of social entrepreneurship issue started in 2008-2009 and NGOs have played particularly active role with their support. It was underlined that with the grants issued by EU Representation, USAID, SIDA and other international organizations, there are dozens of social enterprises successfully operating in Georgia and maintaining competitiveness.

The parties discussed importance of support of social enterprises as absolute majority of enterprises work on inclusiveness of disabled, covering employment, social service accessibility and public integration of disabled. The parties touched upon legal regulation and hailed active cooperation of initiative group with the legislative and executive agencies.