Mariam Kuchuloria, Managing Director of the EBA Georgia, has been officially elected to the Board of Directors of the European Business Organisations Worldwide Network (EBOWN) for the 2026-2027 term.

As part of the global leadership team alongside representatives from major international markets, this directorship places Georgia at the forefront of the global European business ecosystem.

What does this mean for EBA Members and Georgian companies? Lets explore together with Mariam Kuchuloria

Why is global positioning such a critical focus for EBA Georgia and its member companies right now?

For EBA Georgia, global positioning is a core commercial necessity rather than a luxury. Georgian businesses operating to high European standards need to look beyond our traditional geographic borders to scale sustainably. By positioning EBA on the global stage, we achieve two things. First, we elevate Georgia’s profile as a premium, trusted investment hub for international corporations looking at the Caucasus region. Second, we give our local members the international visibility required to connect directly with global supply chains, helping them diversify away from volatile regional markets.

What exactly is the EBO, and what practical benefits does it provide?

EBOWN stands for the European Business Organizations Worldwide Network. It is the only global network of EU-centric business organizations operating outside the European Union, currently active in over 60 markets.

The benefits for our member companies are concrete and measurable. Alignment with EBOWN serves as a badge of corporate transparency and institutional quality, which immediately builds trust with foreign investors. Furthermore, through EBOWN, an EBA member gains a direct gateway to trusted business networks, trade partners, and joint-venture opportunities in Asia, the Americas, Africa, and the Middle East, successfully bypassing traditional gatekeepers. Finally, EBOWN maintains a direct line of communication with the European Commission in Brussels, which means that if our members face regulatory barriers or export compliance bottlenecks, we have the architecture to elevate those issues straight to European policymakers.

As the EBA Georgia’s Managing Director, you were elected by the representatives of up to 60 countries to the EBOWN Global Board of Directors for the 2026–2027 term. What does this election mean for Georgia’s private sector?

This is a milestone moment for Georgia’s business ecosystem. Having myself elected to the global board, alongside newly elected Chair Stefan Ernst from EBO Korea and other global leaders, is a huge responsibility but also big privilege, that means Georgia now has a direct seat at the table where global European business architecture is shaped.

“Georgia’s inclusion in the global governance of EBOWN confirms our country’s growing strategic and economic importance. This position is a powerful tool to open new global doors for Georgian business.”

For our members, this means direct representation. Local corporate challenges and the commercial potential of Georgian enterprises will be voiced directly within the steering circles of international trade. It fundamentally transitions EBA Georgia from a participant in international trade to an active shaper of it.

Beyond EBOWN, EBA Georgia has also joined the Enterprise Europe Network (EEN) as an International Partner. How does this complement your mission?

If EBOWN handles global institutional placement and macro-advocacy, EEN is our hyper-practical commercial accelerator for small and medium enterprises. EEN is the world’s largest support network for SMEs with international ambitions.

Through the Enterprise Europe Network partnership, EBA gives its members direct access to the Europe-Wide Matchmaking Database, a powerful platform linking Georgian businesses with over 500 business support organizations and up to half million companies for targeted trade B2B matches, joint ventures, or R&D partnerships. It also provides tailored guidance on EU single market intelligence, export standards, and environmental or sustainability compliance to aid with regulatory alignment. Lastly, it assists Georgian companies in tapping into European technology transfers, digital transformation best practices and EU cascade funding opportunities to drive innovation.

Looking ahead, what are the next strategic milestones for EBA Georgia under this expanded global umbrella and can any business operating in Georgia approach you to benefit from these platforms?

Our immediate roadmap focuses on bringing these global networks directly to the local market through upcoming forums, workshops, specialized compliance training for local exporters and export development support service.

Regarding accessibility, the answer is a resounding yes. Any business legally operating in Georgia, whether a large multinational, a growing mid-sized enterprise, or an ambitious startup can approach EBA Georgia. Our doors are wide open to any organization committed to doing business transparently and striving to meet international standards. You do not need to have the European investment to join us; you simply need a shared vision for international growth, European standards and competitive excellence. We encourage any business looking to expand globally or enter the European single market to reach out to our team and leverage these powerful new platforms.