The European Union (EU) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) continue inviting Georgian companies of the packaging value chain to apply for co-funding that will assist them in increasing sales, boosting employment, improving production quality, and creating new products and services.

The grant initiative is part of a broader EU-funded programme “The Innovative Action for Private Sector Competitiveness in Georgia” implemented by the UN agencies in cooperation with private companies and business associations. Drawing on an overall budget of up to USD 6 million, the initiative aims to assist Georgian entrepreneurs, improve the legal environment and access to finance, and strengthen ties with the EU.

Priority Areas

Grant programme priority areas:

• Modernization and enhancement of the production process.
• Increasing value-added of the products and services – improved quality, innovation, new products or services.
• Qualitative changes in the production process – certification and international standards.
• Recycling of waste and secondary raw materials and the introduction of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR).

Funding Information

Grant value: minimum amount: USD 5,000 and maximum amount: USD 50,000

Eligibility Criteria

Any person is eligible to participate in the program if s/he meets the following criteria:

• Field of activity: an organization operating at any level of the packaging supply chain, such as a producer and supplier of packaging raw materials, packaging producer or service provider, industrial user of packaging (production of food/beverage products and other goods), recyclers of packaging raw materials and waste, also other businesses providing support activities (printing, logistics, marketing, design, etc.) whose economic activities are related to the production, supply, logistics, usage, recovery, or further management, and related services of any kind of packaging material (packaging raw material, packaging or finished goods).
• Co-participation: Grants will cover 70% of the total eligible costs of a given investment project (grant), while 30% of the grantee’s contribution will be made in cash.
• Geographic coverage of the program: The geographical area of the program is not limited across the country; however, the enterprise must have economic ties with Imereti and/or Kakheti region, which means that enterprises must purchase raw materials and/or produce/sell goods in or from these regions.
• Sole traders and legal entities registered at the National Agency of Public Registry are eligible to participate in the program.
• The beneficiary should own and/or lease real estate, selected for the project, with the right to construction, which is to be registered with the LEPL National Agency of Public Registry (the remaining lease/construction period must be at least 3 years from the date of signing the co-financing agreement).
• The beneficiary’s immovable property should be free of attachment and/or mortgage (only commercial bank mortgages are allowed).
• The beneficiary should not have arrears to the state budget and/or the LEPL “Revenue Service”.
• If the potential beneficiary is a beneficiary of any project/program implemented by the UNDP, s/he must not have violated the terms of the program/project at the time of application.
• Is a member of PMAG Packaging Cluster or intends to join before signing the grant agreement.

For more information, visit UNDP.