Tbilisi Market Project

The Department of Economic Development at Tbilisi City Hall has announced a new project called Tbilisi Market. Every Saturday for the month of July, Tbilisi will host an exhibition of handmade crafts by Georgian artists and small businesses. The products will include textiles, enamel, felt, ceramics, glass, wood, and leather goods. City Hall hopes that Tbilisi market will become an “interesting and verified trade space for local guests and tourists as well, where micro and small entrepreneurs registered in Tbilisi may take part.”

The aim of the project is to promote local creativity and business development in the arts. The market will be held at Rike Park from 5 pm – 11 pm. The first market day was Saturday, June 30, and the event was met with success by vendors and visitors alike. Any entrepreneur may register and participate.

“It is highly important to encourage people who work in this field to sell items regularly from this location. As you know, there are many tourists in the city and this opportunity is vital for them,” said Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze when speaking about the project.

The Head of the Economic Development Department at Tbilisi City Hall, Andria Basilaia, says he is planning a similar event for the fall.

“I call on everyone to visit Rike Park from every Saturday evening to buy items of local entrepreneurs in order to promote their production,” said Basilaia.

The exhibition was held in sync with “Cultural night tours in Georgia,” a project within the framework of Check in Georgia, organized by the Georgia National Tourism Administration. “Cultural night tours in Georgia” invited guests and tourists to attend a concert by the State Academic Group of the Georgian National Ballet ‘Sukhishvilebi’ and musical ensemble ‘Theatrical Quartet.’

By Samantha Guthrie