Autonomous Republic of Adjara Regional Development Strategy

Feb, 2016

On February 19-20, PMCG organized a working meeting to design the Regional Development Strategy of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara.PMCG consultants conducted meetings with the representative of the relevant ministries and self-governances of Adjara and discussed the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats of the main sectors of the region. A significant part of the meeting was dedicated to discussing strategic goals and objectives, as well as the development of a long-term vision.The head of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the Ministers and representatives of relevant ministries and local self-government all attended the meeting.The meeting was organized within the framework of a project implemented by PMCG, and funded by GIZ. The project aims to assist the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara to introduce a strategy and engage interested stakeholders in the process. The strategy is based on the study of the socio-economic situation in Adjara and is also being conducted by PMCG, and funded by GIZ.

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Supporting the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs to Enhance IT Infrastructure

Feb, 2016

PMCG, as part of a consortium led by Tetra Tech ARD, is supporting the Ministry of Labor, Health and Social Affairs (MoLHSA) to enhance its capacity in information technology (IT), within the framework of the USAID GGI project.Recently, MoLHSA introduced a national health information system and a national eHealth strategy. The changes were of major significance and GGI supports the Ministry to ensure the availability, coordination, distribution and use of accurate, reliable and user-friendly health information, aimed to improve health services and program design and implementation, policy development, monitoring and evaluation.PMCG aims to ensure the proper functioning of already designed management systems, such as: Health Management Information Systems (HMIS), Electronic Medical Records (EMR), Financial Information System (FIS), and a citizen portal.The PMCG team is assessing the systems to ascertain how they will work after the database grows and will issue recommendations regarding the methods of fixing bugs and security vulnerabilities. The consultants will study possible authentication mechanisms for citizens and advise the Ministry to ensure that it acts in compliance with the personal data protection agency requirements.The team will also check the general completeness of the systems, following the integration of Health Management Information Systems and Electronic Medical Records. Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Supporting Ministry of Labor, Social and Health Affairs in Increasing the Capacity of IT Unit

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PMCG Scholarships Enabling Students to Attain High Quality Education

Feb, 2016

On February 10, Policy and Management Consulting Group (PMCG) awarded students with PMCG’s scholarships to continue studying at the International School of Economics at Tbilisi State University (ISET).“The progress of Georgia, and indeed the whole world, depends on these types of highly motivated and educated young people. We are glad that we were given an opportunity to create additional incentives for the motivated students, and to invest in the stable and progressive future of the country and the region”, explained Aleksi Aleksishvili, CEO and Chairman at PMCG.PMCG’s criteria were quite simple with ISET chosen as one of the leading economic schools introducing international academic standards in Georgia. Two students who had the highest GPA and demonstrated exceptional drive in the studying process, were chosen under the framework of the company’s scholarship program.At the awarding ceremony, PMCG Chairman and CEO Aleksishvili shared his and PMCG’s experience of enhancing the economies of countries in transition. Aleksishvili reviewed Georgia’s economic development, focusing on the major contributing factors to economic development. He discussed current challenges faced by the country including foreign direct investment, balance of payments (BoP), exchange rate, remittances, governance and economic policy issues.Aleksishvili also shared his opinion with students regarding the importance of diversifying the national economy and integrating it into the regional and world economy.

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International Conference to Discuss Ways of Facilitating Economic Growth and Enhance Public Administration in Belarus

Feb, 2016

On February 11-12, PMCG, in collaboration with BEROC, hosted representatives of the governments of Belarus, Georgia, Poland, Hungary and Czech Republic, international organizations, NGOs, and the private sector to discuss the most suitable methods of facilitating economic development and enhancing public administration in Belarus.The event served as an appropriate platform for all stakeholders to discuss recent challenges faced by the private sector in Belarus and how barriers to business development can be overcome.Within the framework of the event, participants analyzed the importance of promoting a transparent, less bureaucratic and international standard tax administration system, and how simple and transparent procedures for business can attract FDI.Experts from Georgia, Poland, Czech Republic and Hungary reviewed the respective challenges each country faced before introducing tax and fiscal reforms, and the experts will also outline how they managed to enhance a business-enabling environment through simplifying tax administration and introducing e-governance.The conference wass organized as part of the project “Transferring V4 and Georgia Reform Experience to Facilitate Economic Development in Belarus”, funded by the International Visegrad Fund.Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Transferring V4 and Georgia Reform Experience to Facilitate Economic Development in Belarus  

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PMCG Supporting to Introduce Needs-oriented 2016 Program Budget for Akhaltsikhe

Feb, 2016

PMCG recently conducted meetings with the Akhaltsikhe municipality to develop the 2016 draft program budget. PMCG consultants, together with the municipality’s staff, analyzed the Basic Data and Direction document and identified key priority areas for the draft budget. Consultants also delivered technical and methodological coaching to support staff design draft programs, sub programs and performance indicators. As the transparency and effectiveness of the 2016 program budget is of great importance for the municipality’s further development and economic growth, PMCG assisted the municipality to organize a series of meetings with citizens and present the draft program budget.Benefitting from this assistance, Akhaltsikhe municipality can now allocate resources in a more efficient and transparent manner. Accordingly, the interests of the citizens of Akhaltsikhe have been carefully considered.This technical assistance was delivered within the framework of the USAID Good Governance Initiative project, which aims to support the Government of Georgia in strengthening overall transparency, accountability and effectiveness of selected governance and service delivery systems. Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Improving program budgeting capacity of Akhaltsikhe municipality

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Enhancing Tourism Marketing in Adjara

Feb, 2016

During January 11-28, PMCG trained top-level management and staff of the Tourism and Resorts Department of the Government of the Autonomous Republic of Adjara Autonomous Republic (GoARA) to enhance their skills in tourism marketing.In order to achieve tangible results, several courses were provided such as marketing, management, fundraising and donor coordination mechanisms, methods of modern research, statistical analysis, and time management.The courses combined theoretical and practical components that helped trainees to better understand tourism marketing as a whole, starting from identifying key selling points, to effective and efficient planning and implementation systems.Tourism remains one of the most important fields for the economy of Adjara. Therefore, enhancing the capacity of Adjara’s Tourism and Resorts Department is crucial for the region’s economic development.As PMCG has sound experience in capacity building and has implemented several successful projects, GoARA contracted PMCG to carry out the training courses.As a result of the trainings, the Department’s staff are now equipped with all of the necessary tools to conduct market research and statistical analysis, to better communicate their messages to target audiences, and to efficiently manage local tourist facilities that in medium and long-term should improve the tourism sector, the regional economy and, ultimately, the lives of local citizens.“I’d like to highlight that trainings were designed and conducted in a very effective way, so that our staff got information and practical knowledge about the modern trends. Almost all employees of the departments attended the trainings that once again proves how interesting they were. Notably, new ideas were raised in the process that will facilitate development of the department. We are going to take some of them into account and even reflect them in the upcoming budget”, emphasized Mamuka Berdzenishvili, Head of Adjara Tourism and Resorts Department.

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Hosting Iraqi Official Delegation to Introduce Effective Economic Reforms

Feb, 2016

On February 3-6, PMCG hosted an official delegation from Iraq. The study tour was organized by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) and aimed to share, with visitors, Georgia’s experience of successful economic reforms in tax administration, E-governance and public services. The delegation was headed by Dr. Nufal Al Hassan, the Iraqi Prime Minister’s Chief of Staff, and comprised of economic advisors of H.E. Prime Minister, including Robert Bue Jouda, the World Bank Group (WBG) Iraq Country Manager, and Lemya Ayoub, WBG Private Sector Development Analyst. They all met with Aleksi Aleksishvili, PMCG’s CEO and Chairman, who as a former Minister of Finance was one of the initiators and executors of a series of reforms in Georgia, resulting in economic deregulation and liberalization, and increased FDI and GDP growth rate.The delegation also met with Dimitri Kumsishvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia, and the Georgian Prime Minister’s office to learn of the recent challenges facing the country.To observe tangible results of Georgia’s reforms first-hand, guests visited the Public Service Hall in Tbilisi, where citizens can receive more than 300 services in one space, including business, property and civil registration. They also attended site visits to the Car Registration Service Center of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Tbilisi Economic Zone of Registration to witness streamlined customs clearance procedures through its one-stop-shop service.The delegation also visited the Georgian National Investment Agency, to gain an understanding of its role as moderator between foreign investors and the Government of Georgia, ensuring that investors can access necessary and up-to-date information.Iraqi guests were also introduced to the recently opened Georgian Innovations and Technology Agency Techpark that offers its members a fab lab, training/conference hall, and business incubator for innovative ideas.

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Announcement: Open Lecture to Discuss Georgia’s Economic Development

Feb, 2016

On February 10 at 5pm, Aleksi Aleksishvili, PMCG’s chairman and CEO will hold an open lecture about Georgia’s economic development.The event will be held at International School of Economics at TSU (Zandukeli Street 16, Tbilisi, Georgia) and will focus on major contributors to Georgia’s economy. Aleksishvili will also discuss challenges the country’s economy faces, including: foreign direct investment, balance of payments (BoP), exchange rate, remittances, governance and economic policy issues. The lecture will also cover analyses of the best mechanisms for economic development and advantages of diversifying the economy; the importance of openness and integration of Georgian economy in the regional and world economy.By the end of the lecture, Aleksishvili will award two ISET students with PMCG’s Need Based Scholarships.If you are interested to attend, please kindly fill out the registration form: http://bit.ly/AleksishviliSeminar

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PMCG’s CEO Discusses Georgia’s Democratic and Economic Development Prospects

Feb, 2016

On February 2, Aleksi Aleksishvili, PMCG’s Chairman and CEO, participated as a panelist in a discussion about Georgia’s economic development within the framework of the international forum “Prospects of Georgia’s Economic Development”.Aleksishvili noted the major contributors to Georgia’s economy and discussed the country’s main economic challenges including Foreign Direct Investment (FDI import-export), Balance of Payments (BoP), exchange rate, remittances, governance and economic policy issues.He spoke about the best mechanisms for economic development and growth of GDP and stressed the benefits of diversifying the economy, as well as openness and integration in the regional and world economy. Aleksishvili added that facilitating capital market development and streamlining tax policy and administration were also very important components of progress.“The Government of Georgia must use the process of DCFTA implementation, reach additional free trade agreements with other partners efficiently and create incentives for foreign companies to produce and serve other countries from Georgia”, explained Aleksishvili.The forum was organized by the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI), in partnership with the University of Bremen and with the financial support of the Federal Foreign Office of Germany.

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Introducing Waste Management Standards in Kvemo Kartli Region, Georgia

Feb, 2016

PMCG will support the implementation of the Solid Waste Management project in Kvemo Kartli region, Georgia. As a member of the consortium led by HPC AG, PMCG will supervise construction to ensure punctual and effective construction of the new sanitary landfill. In addition, PMCG will oversee all activities and ensure that all procurement is carried out in accordance with the EBRD’s Procurement Policies and Rules (PP&R), and will provide support to review the present design, technical specification, and development of tender documentation.PMCG’s consultants will also introduce financial management systems for the project, necessary training for the personnel of the Project Implementation Unit (PIU) and the lead municipality, and will also set up systems for timely disbursement under contracts in accordance with EBRD’s Disbursement Handbook. Please kindly follow the link below for detailed information about the project:Kvemo Kartli Solid Waste Management Project – Project Implementation Support Services

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