Between 29th June and 1st July 2011, International Alert’s Caucasus Business and Development Network (CBDN) partners organised a Food Expo in Kars, Turkey with the aim of promoting Turkish-Armenian and South Caucasian business relations as well as regional economic cooperation and dialogue.
Around thirty Armenian, Georgian and Turkish businesspeople exhibited their products, exchanged information and developed new contacts. The food exhibition featured different types of cheese, meat and honey products, tea and wine. CBDN’s “Caucasus Tea”, “Caucasus Cheese” and “Caucasus Bouquet” were also presented and attracted special attention due to their unique concept and regional format.
On the last evening, the organisers hosted a wine-tasting event in the well-known KarStore. This event brought together representatives of government and non-governmental institutions, businesspeople and wine experts to sample the various products while enjoying the performances of local musicians. This event provided yet another chance for participants to extend their business reach and make valuable new contacts in the region. This is particularly important in the absence of political resolutions to the conflicts. Business, a common interest across the region, offers an alternative way for promoting peace across the conflict divides.
The event was generously supported by the Black Sea Trust for Regional Cooperation [6].
CBDN is a regional network that promotes peacebuilding through regional economic cooperation and dialogue between all business communities across the South Caucasus. It was founded in 2005 and its work is guided by its members’ shared vision of an economically connected and cooperating peaceful Caucasus. Find out more at www.caucasusbusiness.net [7].