WOMEN EMPOWERMENT

December 5 marked the 10th anniversary of the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Initiative in Georgia, a ten-year partnership between UN Women and the private sector on gender equality.

SOCAR Georgia Petroleum was honored for its 10 years of support and contribution to women’s economic empowerment.

SOCAR supports the Women’s Empowerment Principles (WEPs) Initiative, which increases women’s participation and leadership and creates an environment where fair treatment and equal opportunities enable both women and men to thrive.

On March 26, 2025, SOCAR Georgia Petroleum and the Women’s Football Club Vere signed a Memorandum. The partnership aims to promote a healthy lifestyle among youth, support sports development, and empower women. The memorandum was signed by Nodar Khanchaveli, Director of SOCAR Georgia Petroleum, and Zurab Samushia, Director of FC Vere.

Women’s empowerment is one of the priority areas within SOCAR Georgia Petroleum’s corporate social responsibility strategy. For years, the company has actively implemented various initiatives aimed at strengthening the role of women in business, education, and public life.

Vere is one of the fastest-growing and most promising women’s football clubs in Georgia. In 2025, the club earned the right to compete in the Women’s Premier League and plays an important role in strengthening both the national and youth teams. The club is actively engaged in identifying, developing, and integrating talented players into the national team.

This collaboration marks another step toward building a strong, well-rounded society where women are given more opportunities to fully realize their potential.

On November 23, under the initiative of UN Women and with the support of SOCAR Georgia Petroleum, the Expo Georgia Exhibition Center hosted the exhibition-sale of local women entrepreneurs’ products for the third time.

The event featured 145 women entrepreneurs from Georgia, including refugee women from Ukraine and other countries. These entrepreneurs showcased their products to visitors, who had the opportunity to purchase items on-site.

A separate section within the pavilion was dedicated to green and sustainable businesses, featuring products crafted by women using waste materials, eco-friendly substances, and innovative technologies. Guests could also purchase items made by social enterprises at the venue.

Alongside the exhibition-sale, there was an entertainment and educational corner for children, as well as food and music zones. Additionally, masterclasses were held, allowing visitors to create New Year’s decorations using green technologies.

Notably, on the day before the exhibition, special masterclasses were organized for women entrepreneurs. These sessions covered topics such as utilizing artificial intelligence in business, the specifics of sustainable business, export opportunities to the European Union, and the advantages of e-commerce.

The goal of the exhibition-sale is to promote women’s entrepreneurship in Georgia, facilitating access to markets, sharing valuable knowledge, and fostering meaningful business connections and new partnerships.

On September 26, on Baratashvili Street in Tbilisi, a joint exhibition by the Association of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) and SOCAR Georgia Petroleum was inaugurated.

Visitors attending the event had the opportunity, over two days, to purchase items crafted by women inmates from various penitentiary institutions. The proceeds from the exhibition sales were directly transferred to the personal accounts of the incarcerated women, providing them with additional income.

These women create leather bags, wallets, bracelets, and various accessories by hand while in penitentiary facilities. This process not only enables them to spend their time in the institution productively but also supports their rehabilitation and resocialization. Even after their release, they have the opportunity to continue collaborating with the store, an important factor in preventing reoffending.

As part of the official collaboration, SOCAR provided exhibition inventory to the Association of Women Entrepreneurs.

SOCAR Petroleum Georgia and the Association of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) have signed an agreement of cooperation. The pact was signed by Nodar Kanchaveli, Director of SOCAR Petroleum Georgia, and Mariam Chikopaidze, President of the Association of Women Entrepreneurs (AWE).

The goal of the memorandum is to assist the strengthening and support of women entrepreneurs through the parties' collaborative efforts.

Women's empowerment is a key component of SOCAR's long-term CSR strategy, which has resulted in the implementation of several significant projects.

SOCAR Petroleum Georgia and Association of Women Entrepreneurs - AWE formed a partnership based on shared values and vision. This partnership promotes economic empowerment for women, leading to increased participation in business.

In 2023, SOCAR planned and implemented a project featuring six female entrepreneurs who run social businesses in Georgia. These businesses include "Babale", "GNOMO", "WoodTiness", "Ceramic Studio 1300", "CHIKATAI," and "RKO".

The project aims not only to support female entrepreneurs but also to raise awareness and promote these businesses to a broader audience.

In the past, SOCAR has conducted numerous awareness campaigns focused on advancing women's rights and supporting women.

‍SOCAR was the supporter of the first international rally Rally Offroad Georgia. Ever since, we sponsor the event on an annual basis. It is noteworthy, that the rally also carries a social mission.

The rally aims to break down stereotypes existing in society, showing that driving can also be a passion for women and that they are equally capable of handling the challenges of off-road driving.

The first women's raid in Georgia organized a charity campaign, during which participants distributed clothing, toys, and other humanitarian aid in selected municipalities.

Women's rights protection organization - Safari annually celebrates a Girl's Day. The event unites young people with common values ​​from different regions and aimes to share experiences, opportunities and support adolescent girls. The event includes panel discussions, question-and-answer mode with the audience, board of wishes and goals, games, and other activities. SOCAR supports the Girl's Day event and actively promotes women's rights in Georgia.

In the direction of women's empowerment, SOCAR joined the United Nations Women's Empowerment Principles in 2018, which means protecting women's rights as much as possible in the workplace, encouraging women in high-level management positions, and hiring women for so-called ,,non-common work positions". The project's purpose is to eliminate and prevent sexual discrimination and harassment.

The aforementioned cooperation is ongoing to this day.

SOCAR, an advocate of the empowerment of women, launched the awareness-raising campaign #WomenattheWheel.

As part of the campaign, #womenatthewheel car stickers were distributed with the goal of challenging current stereotypes. As part of the same campaign, SOCAR's Facebook page included weekly news articles with fascinating stories about Georgian and foreign women, their scientific achievements, and bravery.