Social Enterprise Aims to Expand Number of Disabled Employees

Ertad, a social enterprise manufacturing Svanetian salt Zeskho, won a European Foundation project award enabling it to launch production in Mtskheta, a town near the capital city, Tbilisi.

Ertad was established in 2013 by a local Civil Society Organization (CSO), the Movement for Accessible Environment, with grant support and technical assistance from the Eurasia Partnership Foundation (EPF) Social Enterprise Development Program.

The enterprise currently employs three people with disabilities and aims to expand this by an additional six, aided by the financial support of a Finnish non-governmental organization, said Giorgi Alavidze, Zeskho founder.

“It is no easy task to employ those with disabilities, so we keep the production technique simple,” Alavidze said, adding that the enterprise also plans to introduce a spicy sauce to its product line.

Zeskho’s products can be found in four supermarkets. After introducing international HACCP standards, the company also hopes to export its products to Europe.

“Once our production processes are aligned with European standards, we will export to Europe. We have to take certain steps in terms of food safety, the timing of which is related to financial resources,” Giorgi Alavidze said.

Katie Ruth Davies