Tracking Progress - One Reform at a Time

Reform: SME Development Reform (2023-11-17)

Download Report

The SME development reform incorporates the initiatives outlined in the Georgian Small and Medium Entrepreneurship Development Strategy for 2021-2025, along with the corresponding action plans. The objective of the strategy is to foster the continued growth of small and medium entrepreneurship and to reestablish the positive trends observed before the pandemic.

On November 17, 2023, the initial assessment of the SME development reform was conducted. During the public-private dialogue, participants shared their perspectives on the ongoing and future activities associated with the reform. Additionally, insights were shared on the assessment of the reform's outcomes. 

According to the Government

According to the government survey, at this stage, 49.7% of the activities outlined in the 2021-2022 and 2023-2025 action plans for SME development strategy have been completed. The highest level of performance was observed in the direction of Institutional Setup.

Governmental surveys evaluate progress in reform implementation across four domains:

  • the legal framework;
  • infrastructure and budget;
  • institutional setup;
  • and capacity development.

This survey measures the government’s distance from the stated reform objectives on a scale of 0% (no action has taken place) to 100% (all the desired systems have been fully implemented, monitored, and evaluated)

According to the Stakeholders

Based on an anonymous survey of stakeholders, the reform was evaluated with a score of 6.76 out of 10 points, indicating a generally positive assessment of the progress of the reform.

The survey results showed that stakeholders viewed the content and adequacy of the reform, progress, and expected outcomes positively. A moderate result in terms of current performance was indicated.

Stakeholder surveys assess reform progress across four dimensions:

  • reform content and adequacy;
  • current performance;
  • reform progress;
  • and the expected outcomes.

Members of the stakeholder group (excluding implementing governmental stakeholders) set scores on a scale of 1 (poor performance) to 10 (strong performance) for each dimension.

  • Tsisnami Sabadze

    Head of Economic Policy Department, Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia

  • Tatuli Dushuashvili

    Head of the Analysis, Monitoring and Evaluation Department, Enterprise Georgia

  • Tinatin Ksovreli

    Head of Business Statistics Department, GEOSTAT

  • Tamar Japaridze

    Leading Specialist at Sector Economy and Economic Policy Committee, Parliament of Georgia

  • Mariam Chachua

    Head of Analytical Unit, Georgian Parliamentary Research Center

  • Shota Vashakmadze

    Senior Researcher, Georgian Parliamentary Research Center

  • Teona Gelbakhiani

    Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development Coordinator, Skills Agency

  • Teona Ghoghoberidze

    Sector Skills Organizations Specialist, Skills Agency

  • Mariam Nikolashvili

    Non-formal Education Services Development Coordinator, Skills Agency

  • Lela Tabatadze

    Expert, The Office of the Business Ombudsman

  • Mariam Gelashvili

    Head of Department, Rural Development Agency

  • Tamar Tarashvili

    Senior Specialist, Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

  • Giga Phaikidze

    Executive Director, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Association

  • Qetevan Meladze

    President, Georgian Hotel, Restaurant and Cafe Federation

  • Davit Rusia

    Analytical Director, Banking Association of Georgia

  • Nika Kapanadze

    Researcher, PMCG

  • Giorgi Oragvelidze

    Founder, B2C.ge

  • Rati Gabrichidze

    Component Manager, USAID Financial Innovation Program

  • Kakha Gabeskiria

    Chief Leasing Officer , CRYSTAL

  • Giorgi Tsimintia

    Coordination Officer, UNDP

Outcomes

Objective and quantitative data reflects reform outcomes to be used as a proxy for reform effectiveness.