Within the framework of the project “The EU-UN Joint Program for the Improvement of Secondary Professional Education (VET) in Abkhazia, the UNDP project office organized a professional training and educational internship in Turin (Italy) with the participation of young entrepreneurs-members of the CCI of the Republic of Abkhazia and representatives of the educational sector with the aim of introducing open source software and interacting with the private sector. The study tour was led by the project manager Rafis Abazov, and the project assistant Inna Abgadzhava. The Chamber of Commerce and Industry was represented by the Head of the Department for Work with Members of the CCI of RA, Enterprises and Public Associations Kira Zekir-oglu. During the educational trip, participants had the opportunity to get acquainted with the best practices of the ACT system, to visit the enterprises where college students study, as well as to see modern equipped laboratories, Start up centers and innovative Talant Garden projects.

On the initiative of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia and within the framework of a previously signed agreement between the CCI of Abkhazia and the Chamber of Commerce of Turin (Italy), as part of an internship and as a result of negotiations with its Italian colleagues, the reception of the Abkhaz delegation and presentation of Abkhazia were held in the office of Turin CI.

The leadership of Turin Chamber reminded that the President of the CCI of the Republic of Abkhazia Tamila Mertskhulava paid a visit to Turin in summer 2018, and confirmed all previous agreements. Moreover, they kindly conveyed to the President of the CCI of RA a number of proposals for their joint implementation in 2020 for consideration.

In turn, Kira Zekir-oglu thanked the Turin colleagues for receiving the delegation on behalf of the leadership of the CCI of Abkhazia, noting that the agreement signed earlier between the chambers will be filled with practical content in terms of cooperation.

Abkhaz entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to get acquainted with the production potential of Italian enterprises, meet interesting people and tell them about their products, as well as negotiate a possible increase in trade between Abkhazia and Italy.

Let us recall that in the conference hall of the CCI of the Republic of Abkhazia, a round table was organized by the CCI of the Republic of Abkhazia and UNDP with the participation of members of the Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Abkhazia and UNDP staff, which discussed problems and issues of supporting small and medium enterprises. According to the results of the round table, young entrepreneurs were selected for a trip to a professional training internship in Turin.

The Association of Young Entrepreneurs of Abkhazia was established by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Abkhazia in June 2018. Most of the young entrepreneurs of the republic became members of the abovementioned Association.