Economic Prosperity Initiative (EPI) Annual Report Year 3

The initiative is led by Deloitte Consulting LLP and is funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). The program's primary objective is to improve the business enabling environment, increase competitiveness, and enhance economic knowledge in the region. The EPI program is divided into several components, including the Business Enabling Environment Component (BEE), the Agriculture Sectors Component (AG), the Manufacturing & Service Sectors Component (M&S), and the Cross-Cutting Activities Component (CC). The BEE component focuses on improving the regulatory environment, property rights, investment sector economic governance, international trade and customs, tax systems, procurement and privatization systems, agricultural policy environment, and e-governance activities. The AG component aims to improve the value chain of agricultural products, increase access to agricultural information, and enhance sustainable access to support services. The M&S component focuses on improving the competitiveness of the manufacturing and service sectors, including the tourism sector and the information and communication technology (ICT) sector. The CC component addresses cross-cutting issues such as gender and youth integration, increasing economic knowledge, establishing public-private partnerships, and access to finance. The Management and Operations Component (M&O) is responsible for managing the program's operations, including work planning, communications, procurement and grants, subcontracting, performance monitoring, and environmental evaluation. The EPI program has made significant progress in the Caucasus region, particularly in Georgia. The program has implemented various initiatives to improve the business enabling environment, increase competitiveness, and enhance economic knowledge. The program has also established partnerships with local organizations and government agencies to support the implementation of its activities. One of the key achievements of the EPI program is the improvement of the regulatory environment in Georgia. The program has worked with the government to simplify the licensing process, reduce bureaucratic barriers, and increase transparency. The program has also established a business advisory services unit to provide support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The EPI program has also made significant progress in improving the competitiveness of the manufacturing and service sectors in Georgia. The program has implemented initiatives to improve the value chain of agricultural products, increase access to agricultural information, and enhance sustainable access to support services. The program has also established partnerships with local organizations and government agencies to support the implementation of its activities. The EPI program has also addressed cross-cutting issues such as gender and youth integration, increasing economic knowledge, establishing public-private partnerships, and access to finance. The program has implemented various initiatives to support women and youth in entrepreneurship and employment, including training programs, mentorship, and access to finance. Overall, the EPI program has made significant progress in promoting economic growth and development in the Caucasus region, particularly in Georgia. The program's initiatives have improved the business enabling environment, increased competitiveness, and enhanced economic knowledge, contributing to the region's economic prosperity.