Success stories

Tamara Chigogidze, founder and CEO of Georgia’s Radio Holding Fortuna
Passionate about the role of women: the Georgian broadcaster who developed a digital strategy with the help of Women in Business
Georgia
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06/03/2019
Tamara Chigogidze, founder and CEO of Georgia’s Radio Holding Fortuna, the country’s largest radio broadcasting company, has always believed in the importance of the media in shaping an inclusive society. “I believe that if we recognise the role that mass media can play in promoting an inclusive society, then we as a broadcaster must also use our opportunities to leverage our network and our...
Andriy Mitchenko, one of the founders of Ecosoft
A clean business
Ukraine
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04/03/2019
“When I see the big yellow and blue flag every day on my water filter and the inscription ‘Made in Ukraine with pride’, it makes me proud,” says Olga, 35, from Kyiv. “In fact, it’s very satisfying that such high-quality goods are being produced in our country.” For three years, Olga’s family has been using the reverse osmosis cleaning system manufactured by Ecosoft. The proud Kyiv resident says...
Yana Pogosyan (photo by Nazik Armenakian)
Yana and Arev: Young Armenian women bringing innovation to their country
Armenia
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04/03/2019
Yana Pogosyan puts what people discuss at various training sessions and forums into graphics. She turns words into images, collecting “showpieces” for exhibition, making it easier to perceive information. So far, this method has not been widely used in Armenia, but, as Yana says, it is very promising and popular in many countries. As a graphic designer, Yana has been engaged in graphic recording...
Cherie LLC has received support from EU4Business
Feeding Georgia’s love affair with coffee
Georgia
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26/02/2019
With funding from the European Union under its EU4Business initiative, the EBRD has helped a Georgian coffee producer increase competitiveness by introducing operational and internal quality management standards. Many of us cannot imagine starting a day without a cup of strong and aromatic coffee: the morning pick-me-up gives just the right energy boost and sets us up for a productive day. While...
Dadari toys
The tiny Georgian toy company making a big difference
Georgia
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20/02/2019
Dadari in Tbilisi is much more than just a toy company. Out of the firm’s seven employees, three have learning disabilities. All of the firm's products comply with EU standards. The toys are made from solid wood and painted in organic colours. Dadari was able to expand its business after obtaining 25,000 Georgian Lari - just over €8,000 - from Credo Bank. The mircrofinance was made possible,...
New kilns have enabled Polissia to dry around 1500 cubic square metres of pine board per month
Fuelling Ukraine's SME potential
Ukraine
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20/02/2019
Boosting the supply of credit to small and medium-sized enterprises is vital for jobs and growth, especially in Ukraine where SMEs account for over 90 per cent of businesses and employ two-thirds of the active working population. Thanks to EU support under the EU4Business initiative , in 2017 the European Investment Bank Group started a programme, which provides loan guarantees to local banks in...
Cyber Mantis Games is one of the winners of Seven Startup Summit 2018
Armenian gamer hopes EU grant will help propel new game onto European markets
Armenia
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18/02/2019
With the help of EU4Business, an Armenian start-up has developed a new video game that it soon hopes to release in all European languages. Cyber Mantis Games developed its game, ' The Last Daredevil' , inspired by the Armenian legend of David of Sassoun. The hack’n’slash game takes the ancient hero and places him in an unexpected cyberpunk setting, making him explore his identity by traveling...
Boosting Technological Developments in Shirak Marz
From unemployment to high-tech: how EU4Business is transforming prospects for young people in Armenia
Armenia
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25/01/2019
People from all walks of life have participated in the 'Boosting Technological Development in Shirak Marz' project – an EU-funded initiative implemented under the EU4Business initiative by the Microsoft Innovation Centre in Armenia, and aimed at meeting the demand of local IT companies by training the unemployed youth of Shirak to become junior developers. Of the 80 students who passed the logic...
Fruit Garden of Moldova
Harvesting the potential of Moldova's SMEs
Moldova
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22/01/2019
Getting the finance to start or develop any small or medium-sized enterprise can be tough at the best of times. In Moldova, it can be especially hard. But are things changing? Business Planet visited Soroca, in the north of the country, to see how farms are benefiting from a special European initiative. AMG Kernel is Europe's biggest walnut farm. It covers 750 hectares and exports nearly 80...
Baku skyline
Supporting Azerbaijan’s SME reform agenda
Azerbaijan
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09/01/2019
With the support of the OECD within the EU4Business initiative, Azerbaijan has embarked on the implementation of a wide-ranging reform agenda aimed at diversifying the economy and enhancing the contribution of small and medium enterprises to employment, domestic production and exports. The fall in oil prices in 2015, combined with an economic slowdown in key regional trade partners, led to a...