This research project is intended to analyse the opportunities that have been created by Georgia’s signing of the Association Agreement with the EU. It is undertaken by GeoWel Research and will contribute to EBRD’s Country Diagnostic development process.

GeoWel is a research partner for People in Need (PiN)’s pilot project, which is funded by ENPARD. The project provided assistance to the three largest agricultural VET providers in Imereti, as well as to the Veterinary Association and the Builders’ Association.

GeoWel is a research partner for the People in Need (PiN)’s Local Action Group (LAG) Kazbegi project. This is a pilot project funded by ENPARD and the aim is to help local communities to mobilize, identify priorities for development and address them with the initial support of the project.

This research looked at whether mobile banking system is feasible in Georgia and if it is, if it could be used to facilitate the transfer of international remittances. Using mobile banking for international remittances requires two different elements and this research project was structured to investigate both.

In 2007 and 2008 Dr Welton worked with Platinum Real Estate, a property company based in St Petersburg to a detailed business plan and feasibility analysis of the possibility of developing student accommodation in the suburbs of Petersburg.

This paper examined whether trade between Georgia’s region of Samtskhe-Javakheti and the neighbouring Armenian region of Shirak could significantly facilitate economic development.

In 2007 Dr Welton worked for Sun Capital Partners in Georgia, a large UK-based venture capital firm, undertaking investment analysis.