The above described areas will either have to be addressed or at least considered by every single business, which intends to participate in this market and to benefit from its unique characteristics. It seems prudent however for each of these businesses, to reduce its efforts and to share the inherent risk through the use of existing organizations and by participating in a new, emerging community.

EUCATI, the EU Caucasian Asia Trade Initiative

represents such a community of parties, interested to participate in the markets of the Caucasus and South Asian geographies. EUCATI will be established as an open, informal community comprising the public sector, education and academic institutions, the transportation sector and traders. EUCATI will organize workshops and conferences covering topics relevant to these constituents and the subject region. It will engage in publication and dissemination activities sharing experiences and results of publicly funded projects and initiatives. The main benefit of EUCATI to its members is expected to accrue by its growing network, allowing the ad hoc formation of project consortia, dedicated interest groups and joint marketing and lobbying efforts. Membership will be established informally by active participation in the group’s activities. Austria‘s Foreign Trade Organization (AWO), the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and PARADIGMA organized a workshop in June in Vienna to discuss the business potential of the Caucasus region (Asian CIS countries) for businesses in Austria and Central Europe.

A group of about 25 business experts and managers representing companies in Austria either already active in these markets or considering to expand in this region, shared their experiences, concerns as well as their intentions. The intentions and objectives ranged from searching new export markets for goods and services, to the procurement of raw materials and energy products; from required transport modes to planned provision of transport related services; from the need to identify reliable local business partners to initiatives to develop joint education programs and curricula.

EUCATI is a first result and consequence of this workshop, where a consensus was reached at its conclusion to not only maintain but to expand and intensify these first contacts. The proposal of the initiators to organize a conference in the fall, inviting among others participants from the region to share their views about the challenges and opportunities has also been well received.

First EUCATI Vienna Conference

Consequently we are planning to organize a two day’s conference in November in Vienna and to extend invitations to participants from the Caucasus region as well as from EU countries, interested in the markets along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor. To ensure value to all participants, warranting their
time and, in the case of foreigners, their investment to come to Vienna, we would like to offer an interesting spectrum of topics & speakers.

We are thus inviting you to share your ideas regarding topics that you might be interested in and that have a relevance to this region.

Furthermore, should you be in a position to recommend known authorities for speakers it will be highly appreciated. We will try to consider each of your contributions which we will receive before the end of September. To support communication among EUCATI members, we will provide a web-site before the end of August, which we plan to use for collaboration and networking among members wishing to do so. Traditional communication channels such as e-mail and regular mail will be kept open as well.

EUCATI, the EU Caucasian Asia Trade Initiative

represents such a community of parties, interested to participate in the markets of the Caucasus and South Asian geographies. EUCATI will be established as an open, informal community comprising the public sector, education and academic institutions, the transportation sector and traders. EUCATI will organize workshops and conferences covering topics relevant to these constituents and the subject region. It will engage in publication and dissemination activities sharing experiences and results of publicly funded projects and initiatives. The main benefit of EUCATI to its members is expected to accrue by its growing network, allowing the ad hoc formation of project consortia, dedicated interest groups and joint marketing and lobbying efforts. Membership will be established informally by active participation in the group’s activities. Austria‘s Foreign Trade Organization (AWO), the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and PARADIGMA organized a workshop in June in Vienna to discuss the business potential of the Caucasus region (Asian CIS countries) for businesses in Austria and Central Europe.

A group of about 25 business experts and managers representing companies in Austria either already active in these markets or considering to expand in this region, shared their experiences, concerns as well as their intentions. The intentions and objectives ranged from searching new export markets for goods and services, to the procurement of raw materials and energy products; from required transport modes to planned provision of transport related services; from the need to identify reliable local business partners to initiatives to develop joint education programs and curricula.

EUCATI is a first result and consequence of this workshop, where a consensus was reached at its conclusion to not only maintain but to expand and intensify these first contacts. The proposal of the initiators to organize a conference in the fall, inviting among others participants from the region to share their views about the challenges and opportunities has also been well received.

First EUCATI Vienna Conference

Consequently we are planning to organize a two day’s conference in November in Vienna and to extend invitations to participants from the Caucasus region as well as from EU countries, interested in the markets along the Europe-Caucasus-Asia corridor. To ensure value to all participants, warranting their
time and, in the case of foreigners, their investment to come to Vienna, we would like to offer an interesting spectrum of topics & speakers.

We are thus inviting you to share your ideas regarding topics that you might be interested in and that have a relevance to this region.

Furthermore, should you be in a position to recommend known authorities for speakers it will be highly appreciated. We will try to consider each of your contributions which we will receive before the end of September. To support communication among EUCATI members, we will provide a web-site before the end of August, which we plan to use for collaboration and networking among members wishing to do so. Traditional communication channels such as e-mail and regular mail will be kept open as well.