Tech innovations inspire Georgian media team

Video by Lin Songtao

For the first time, Georgia showcased its array of products at the China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF). A delegation of four from Georgia’s leading public and private media organizations traveled all the way from the Gulf area to explore the exhibition at the Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Center from Saturday to Monday.

Members of the Georgian media team pose for a photo amid props resembling a film shooting location at ICIF over the weekend. Lin Songtao

In Hall 10, a hub for cultural exhibits from across the globe, Georgia displayed its offerings such as wines, jewelry, honey, and more at the European and Gulf Countries Direct Investment Fund booth.

Mikheil Tarakhchev, a member of the media group and CEO of the European and Gulf Countries Direct Investment Fund, said the ICIF serves as a bridge between foreign businesses and the Chinese market.

“It’s a very important opportunity to participate in such an event. The cultural fair provides small and medium enterprises with chances to enter the Chinese market, to generate sales,” Tarakhchev said.

Venturing beyond Hall 10, the media professionals embarked on a comprehensive exploration of ICIF. They delved into Chinese culture at the China International Cultural Communication Center, indulging in traditional Chinese tea ceremony and admiring Chinese paintings. They marveled at the convergence of culture and technology, exemplified by AI hosts, digital innovations, robots, and more.

The group exhibited immense enthusiasm for media-related technologies, including a livestreaming room featuring an AI host. They also witnessed their images transformed into AI-generated figures. EHang 216S, a pilotless passenger aerial vehicle developed by Guangzhou-based EHang Co. Ltd., immediately grabbed their attention , sparking discussions about its intricate details.

Tarakhchev saw the cultural fair as an international platform facilitating the exchange of Chinese and European products and was particularly interested in AI-generated content that can revolutionize tourist experiences.

Rusudan Manjgaladze, deputy director of Georgian Public Broadcaster, underscored China’s success in fostering innovative media solutions. “We hope we can cooperate with those companies and apply the tech in our media products,” Manjgaladze added.

Nanuka Alavidze, public relations manager of Foryou Multimedia Group, was attracted to traditional Chinese culture. She was drawn to a booth presenting cultural products printed with Chinese characters, mainly family names. As a fan of Chinese culture and cuisines, the cultural fair provided her with a vast platform to explore and understand China.

Manjgaladze highlighted the role of cultural exchange in uniting people through shared experiences and technologies. Looking ahead, Tarakhchev expressed his aspirations to rally more companies to participate in the cultural fair in the coming years, fostering greater cross-cultural exchange.