Georgia’s GRC Partners with EU and EBRD to Enhance Building Materials Offering

Georgia’s GRC Partners with EU and EBRD to Enhance Building Materials Offering

(IN BRIEF) GRC, the leading producer of building materials in Georgia, has partnered with the European Union (EU) and the EBRD to expand its product portfolio by introducing rain gutter systems. The EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line supported GRC’s investment in modern machinery, and the company received technical assistance and a cashback incentive from the EU. The EBRD provided advisory support for lean management principles. GRC can now internally produce all components of its rainwater systems, reducing electricity consumption. The company aims to expand its market presence in the Mediterranean, EU, and Armenia. Over 240 Georgian companies have benefited from the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line since its inception.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 8-Jun-2023 — /EuropaWire/ — The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), a multilateral developmental investment bank, announces that GRC, the leading producer of building materials in Georgia, has joined forces with the European Union (EU) and the EBRD to introduce rain gutter systems as the latest addition to its product portfolio. While roofing has been the company’s primary focus for two decades, GRC has expanded its offerings to include rain gutter systems with the support of the EU and EBRD.

“We have always had an ambition to diversify and launch new products to make the Georgian construction market more attractive and local production more viable,” says Jaba Janelidze, GRC brand manager.

The construction sector plays a vital role in Georgia’s economic growth, creating demand for building materials and home improvement products. GRC’s journey began with modest beginnings, gradually growing over the years to become a leader in the local market, producing roof tiles and establishing four shops. With assistance from the EBRD and the EU, GRC has now embarked on a mission to enhance homes, one gutter at a time.

“Most rainwater systems you can see on the local market are manually produced and poorly designed, with non-standard sized pipes and gutters making fitting a laborious process. We have decided to change the status quo,” says Jaba.

The EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line played a pivotal role in supporting GRC’s investment in modern machinery through Procredit Bank, a local partner commercial bank. The company received technical support from an international group of experts as part of the investment process. Upon completion of the project, GRC received a cashback incentive funded by the EU under its EU4Business initiative. Furthermore, the EBRD provided international advisory support to introduce lean management principles to GRC, aimed at minimizing waste while maintaining or increasing production levels.

“High performance, speed and accuracy meet the requirements of our manufacturing process to the maximum”, says Jaba. He is happy to talk for hours about the opportunities that the new equipment brings to customers and the company.

As a result of these initiatives, GRC can now internally produce all components of its rainwater systems and accessories, including gutter joints, hook ends, outlet collars, pipe wall hooks, and more. The new equipment has significantly reduced the factory’s electricity consumption by a factor of approximately three.

With a promising future ahead, GRC aims to expand its market presence in the Southern and Eastern Mediterranean, the EU, and soon in Armenia. GRC is just one of over 240 companies in Georgia that have benefited from the EU4Business-EBRD Credit Line since its establishment in 2016. With multiple partner financial institutions participating in the program and growing interest from local companies, many more businesses are expected to benefit in the future.

“The construction of your house is a pleasurable, but quite often stressful endeavour,” says Jaba. “When you start fitting a gutter system, that is the sign that you are nearing the finish line. We would like to ease our customers’ experience by providing high quality, rounded, double-painted rainwater systems that can last a lifetime and are able to cope with large flows of rainwater,” he notes.

Media contact:

Tel: +44 207 338 7805
Email: press@ebrd.com

SOURCE: EBRD