Subject: Fw: Request from the Ministry on 3d printing houses
From: Tinatin Ramishvili <[email-masked]>
To: Tinatin Khardziani <[email-masked]>
Cc: Giorgi Eteria <[email-masked]>, Gvantsa Amiranashvili <[email-masked]>
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 2020 09:18:09 +0000

​

From: Nino Kvernadze

Sent: Friday, August 14, 2020 1:17 PM

To: Garret Mitchell; [email-masked]

Cc: Tamar Barkalaia; Tornike Sulaberidze; Davit Kaikatsishvili; Tinatin Ramishvili; Tea Kankia

Subject: RE: Request from the Ministry on 3d printing houses

Dear Garret,

Dear Ebru,

Greetings. I hope this email finds you well. As you will see in the CC list, the responsible team for this project has formed at the Ministry, and the Deputy Minister Ms. Tamar
Barkalaia will supervise the process.

To go back, as agreed and discussed during the call, we have summarized the information which is more than a one pager (please see attached). It contains general country overview,
the list of ongoing housing programs, as wells as specific information on the project. You can use and distribute this as you deem necessary.

Many thanks in advance. And again, we greatly appreciate your assistance and hope for Georgia – US cooperation towards implementation of this project.

Would you have any questions for clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Best regards,

ნინო კვერნაძე

პროექტის მენეჯერი,

მსოფლიო ბანკის COVID-19-ის წინააღმდეგ სწრაფი რეაგირების

პროექტის განმახორციელებელი ჯგუფი (PIU),

საქართველოს ოკუპირებული ტერიტორიებიდან დევნილთა, შრომის, ჯანმრთელობისა და სოციალური დაცვის სამინისტრო

www.moh.gov.ge

Nino Kvernadze

Project Manager, PIU – World Bank

Emergency COVID-19 Response Project Implementation Unit

Ministry of Internally Displaced Persons from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia

www.moh.gov.ge

Email:
[email-masked]

Cell: +995 599 18 46 44

From: Tornike Sulaberidze

Sent: Monday, August 3, 2020 6:47 PM

To: Garret Mitchell

Cc: [email-masked]; Nino Kvernadze

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Dear Colleagues,

It was pleasure discussing with you the IDP’s project in Georgia.

As we mentioned by Wednesday we will share with you the one pager regarding the project and will wait for your feedback.

Thank you once again for your time and support.

Sincerely,

Tornike

Sent from my iPad

On 29 Jul 2020, at 09:24, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Good morning Tornike,

Sure - not a problem. I can certainly understand why the ministry would need to reschedule. Please feel free to send an updated calendar invite for Monday morning.

Best,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Wednesday, July 29, 2020 9:16 AM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Hi Garret,

Can we reschedule tomorrow’s call on Monday same time? Ministry representative had some emergency as it is the same agency dealing with Covid.

Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

Sincerely,

Tronike

Sent from my iPad

On 28 Jul 2020, at 09:28, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Hi Tornike -

Here you go:

[email-masked]

[email-masked]

[email-masked]

Thanks again and talk to you on Thursday,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2020 9:13 AM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Great! Can you please share the emails of your colleagues, I will organize the call via embassy google meets account.

Sincerely

Tornike

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 28, 2020, at 09:07, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Good morning Tornike,

Yes - 10am on Thursday will work for us.

Best,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Tuesday, July 28, 2020 8:25 AM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Good morning Garret,

Will Thursday 10 am eastern work for you?

Sincerely,

Tornike

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 27, 2020, at 18:34, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Hi Tornike,

Sure - that would be fine. I understand if you may not be able to answer some of the specific questions about what the Ministry needs so please feel free to invite them.

Just let me know a few times that work for you.

Best,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 5:31 PM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Hi Garret,

Sure, but in case they need more specific details I suggest to have someone from the Ministry of IDPs as well if you don’t mind.

Sincerely,

Tornike

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 27, 2020, at 15:14, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Hi Tornike,

I've had a couple of questions from the team here about the project. Would you be able to have a telephone call with us on Thursday or Friday? If so, please let me know what times
would work for you.

Best,

Garret

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 2:18 PM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: RE: Request from the Ministry

Hi Garret,

Thanks! Will wait for your email.

Sincerely,

Tornike

From: Garret Mitchell [mailto:[email-masked]]

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 1:48 PM

To: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Hi Tornike,

Thank you. I did have a nice weekend. How about you?

Thanks for the additional information. I have passed this along to our agency's team lead who handles the construction sector. I hope to have some response in the next few
days.

Best,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Monday, July 27, 2020 10:06 AM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Good morning Garret,

Hope you had a nice weekend.

As you are aware currently we have around 250 000 Internal Displaced Persons, who can not go back home because of Russian occupation of Georgian territories. Government step by step is allocating funding to buy houses for the IDP’s
families. Taking into account that new technologies such as 3D printing is cost and time efficient, Gov decided at the first stage to build 10 000- 15 000 houses ( figure depend on the unit price). In case the price would be affordable, the Gov would like
to start it as soon as possible and the construction should be finalised within one year after the agreement.

Please let me know in case you need additional information. Thank you once again for the support.

Sincerely,

Tornike

Sent from my iPad

On 24 Jul 2020, at 10:40, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Good morning Tornike,

I checked with our offices in Austin, Texas about the company ICON. They said that they have heard that the company is not currently looking to expand into additional international
markets at this time.

I have also contacted our Global Building Teams point of contact to see if there are other U.S. companies that offer similar services and products.

A couple of questions that might be helpful for us:

1) Can you give us an idea of what Georgia is looking for - in other words, are they seeking to build residential homes or other buildings? Do you know approximately how many
you would like to build?

2) Do you have a rough timeline for when you would like to begin?

Any other details would be helpful as we reach out to companies here.

Thanks!

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 12:32 PM

To: Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Cc: Danica Starks <[email-masked]>; Paata Patiashvili <[email-masked]>; Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Garret,

Thanks!

Sincerely,

Tornike

Sent from my iPhone

On Jul 22, 2020, at 12:25, Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]> wrote:

Hi Tornike,

We'd be happy to look into this for you and if ICON does not export (or is not interested) we can help find another company that offers similar products/services.

Best,

Garret

International Trade Specialist

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

Department of Commerce | International Trade Administration

Phone: 202-482-5730; Email: [email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 12:16 PM

To: Danica Starks <[email-masked]>; Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Cc: Paata Patiashvili <[email-masked]>; Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>

Subject: RE: Request from the Ministry

Wow only 10? I thought the figure was higher.

Looking forward for the training, I am sure that there would lot of interesting topics.

Tornike

From: Danica Starks [mailto:[email-masked]]

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 12:14 PM

To: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>; Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Cc: Paata Patiashvili <[email-masked]>; Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Only 10% of US companies export! This is something we will discuss on our training-you have given us a great example Tornike! :)

Danica R. Starks

Policy Team Director

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1401 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20230

Tel: +1-202-482-3952

DOC Mobile: +1-202-790-7351

[email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 12:10:22 PM

To: Danica Starks <[email-masked]>; Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Cc: Paata Patiashvili <[email-masked]>; Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>

Subject: RE: Request from the Ministry

Hi Danica,

Thanks,  I looked up online and export data of the company was not public available, as you pointed out it might be that they are not exporting. The
company was identified by the Minister, but will double check with them.

In meanwhile, in case you have database of the 3D-Printing construction companies which are ready to export, please let me know, pretty sure that the
Ministry would be open to purchase from other US companies.

Sincerely,

Tornike

From: Danica Starks [mailto:[email-masked]]

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 11:57 AM

To: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>; Garret Mitchell <[email-masked]>

Cc: Paata Patiashvili <[email-masked]>; Maia Nikoleishvili <[email-masked]>

Subject: Re: Request from the Ministry

Tornike,

Are you sure that they export? The vast majority of US companies actually do not export. Also, if they do export but don’t already export to the region they may not
be interested. We will see if they are one of our clients but just something to consider, many companies are not set up to sell overseas.

Danica

Danica R. Starks

Policy Team Director

Office of Russia, Ukraine & Eurasia

U.S. Department of Commerce

International Trade Administration

1401 Constitution Ave NW

Washington, DC 20230

Tel: +1-202-482-3952

DOC Mobile: +1-202-790-7351

[email-masked]

From: Tornike Sulaberidze <[email-masked]>

Sent: Wednesday, July 22, 2020 11:52 AM

To: Garret Mitchell

Cc: Danica Starks; Paata Patiashvili; Maia Nikoleishvili

Subject: Request from the Ministry

Hi Garret,

Hope you are doing well.

I have received the request from the Ministry of IDPs from the Occupied Territories, Labour, Health and Social Affairs of Georgia to purchase 3-D Printing technology
in order to build 3D printed homes for vulnerable and homeless families in Georgia. They tried to reach out to the company “ICON” (https://www.iconbuild.com/about),
as far as I am aware the company HQ is located in Austin, Texas.

As you are aware it is crucial for us to purchase the technology from our partners in all sectors and not to look for cheap alternatives. Can you please contact us
with relevant person at the company who will be responsive to our request?

Thank you in advance!

Sincerely,

Tornike