Georgian Armenian Business Association (GABA) Officially Launched. Alongside Helio. Ai’s Market Entry into Armenia

ArmInfo. Georgian Armenian Business Association (GABA) officially launched its operations in Armenia with the support of the Women’s Economic Security Program Her Power, Her Future implemented by CARE Caucasus on April 15, 2026, in Yerevan.

The launch event marked an important milestone in strengthening economic, trade, and investment cooperation between Georgia and Armenia, and in establishing a structured platform for cross-border business collaboration.

GABA was established as a regional platform to strengthen commercial ties between Georgia and Armenia by supporting cross-border market entry and business expansion. It fosters dialogue between the public and private sectors, while promoting investment, trade, partnerships, and knowledge exchange to drive sustainable economic growth across the region.

GABA aims to act as a bridge between the two markets by providing practical support, strategic connections, and a collaborative environment for businesses operating across both countries.

Lali Svimonia, Founder / Director of Georgian-Armenian Business Association said: "Georgian-Armenian Business Association was established with a clear vision - to bridge the Georgian and Armenian markets by creating real, result-oriented connections between businesses. Today, we are proud to see that this vision is already being successfully implemented, as GABA actively operates across both markets, supporting companies in building partnerships and expanding their presence. This event was a strong reflection of that mission in action. We hosted leading companies from Armenia across various industries, and that evening we also welcomed representatives of  Georgian business community. They had the opportunity to meet, connect, and explore concrete areas of collaboration. We believed that these direct interactions were the foundation of long-term partnerships, and we were confident that today’s connections would evolve into meaningful and scalable business collaborations between our two countries.”

Helio AI Market Entry Announcement in Armenia

As part of the event, Helio.AI, a Georgia-based AI-powered recruiting (HR tech) platform, officially announced its entry into the Armenian market, marking an important step in its regional expansion strategy. The move reflects a growing interest among international and regional companies in strengthening their presence and partnerships in Armenia. 

Helio AI’s expansion aims to support local businesses with innovative, technology-driven recruitment solutions while actively engaging with Armenia’s evolving business ecosystem. During the event, the company formalized cooperation agreements with Armenian partner organizations, laying the foundation for its local operations and long-term collaboration in the market.

Notably, Helio AI, as a startup, was initially supported by the “Her Power, Her Future” program, which contributed to its early-stage development and growth.

Ia Jikia, Director of Helio AI, said: We are currently present in seven countries, and we are delighted that Armenia has become our eighth market. Today, we are already signing agreements with major companies, marking an important step in our regional expansion. The Armenian market offers strong new opportunities, and our collaboration with GABA has enabled us to enter the market and introduce our product. We are grateful to all our partners and the Association for this opportunity.

Panel Discussions on Advancing Armenia – Georgia Cross-Border Business and Inclusive Growth

The program featured a moderated thematic panel discussion focused on cross-border business development and market integration. Particular emphasis was made on cross-border trade and investment opportunities, the role of business associations in fostering regional cooperation and private sector perspectives on market expansion and partnerships, inclusive growth with opportunities for SMEs, women-led businesses, and regional entrepreneurs, workforce development, talent mobility, and skills for cross-border markets, and inter alia, access to finance and digital tools for business expansion.

Ceremonial Segment of Signing a Memorandum of Understanding

Ceremonial segment of the event featured signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between GABA and partner companies.  

CARE Caucasus Executive Director Nino Bolkvadze said: “Cross-border collaboration is essential to unlocking new economic opportunities and strengthening regional resilience. These discussions highlight the critical role of partnerships in helping businesses, especially women-led enterprises, scale beyond local markets. CARE Caucasus remains committed to supporting inclusive growth by fostering dialogue, knowledge exchange, and practical solutions for market integration.”

About GABA The Georgian-Armenian Business Association (GABA) is a regional initiative dedicated to fostering economic cooperation between Georgia and Armenia. The association supports businesses through networking opportunities, market insights, and engagement with key stakeholders, aiming to facilitate sustainable cross-border growth.

About HelioAI Helio began operating from Georgia 2 years ago and currently serves more than 500 brands  across eight countries. The company’s mission is to transform recruitment into a modern and intelligent process. Its platform helps recruiters automate and accelerate hiring and focus on what matters the most - people.

About CARE Caucasus’s “Her Power, Her Future” program The Women’s Economic Security Program “Her Power, Her Future”, launched in September 2022, supports the empowerment of rural women in Georgia, Armenia, and Azerbaijan by increasing their economic opportunities and engagement in entrepreneurship, cross-border trade, and business networks. Aimed at fostering sustainable development across the South Caucasus, the program is funded by the U.S. Department of State and implemented by CARE Caucasus in partnership with local organizations.