2019-12-09
"Agriculture should become an efficiently growing sector of the country, both in terms of exports and domestic consumption being met, but primarily for import being substituted" stated Giorgi Gakharia, Prime Minister of Georgia at a meeting held with the staff of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia today.
Head of Government of Georgia stressed the need to improve the balance of agri-food and noted that prime goal of the country is to ensure a full substitution of imports with domestic production of agriculture produce, thereby meeting the local demand for consumption and exports.
According to the Prime Minister of Georgia, it is most important to focus on the quality assurance standards of Georgian wine industry.
In the opinion of the Head of Government of Georgia, it is essential to work in a concentrated manner on the agriculture produce and topics like systemic land registration, which is pursued by the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia together with the Ministry of Justice of Georgia, expected to complete in the most efficient manner. In addition, production capacities should be augmented and actions need to be taken towards facilitated cattle-breeding. Head of Government of Georgia instructed the line ministry to develop a Strategy for Development of Cattle-Breeding in Georgia in the shortest time-frame along with a detailed Action Plan to implement it.
Focus was also made on the irrigation and plans for 2020 towards this end.
Prime Minister of Georgia also focused on the high concentration of employment in the agriculture sector of Georgia, along with the existing challenges in terms of effectiveness.
"Everyone understands it well that changes and investments made in agriculture in recent years should already have tangible results. And they do indeed, though we should clearly think about the diversification of markets and products. Agriculture should become an efficiently growing sector of the country, both in terms of exports and domestic consumption being met, but primarily for import being substituted. Environmental component is vital of course. I understand the complexity of integrating these two rather complicated areas and it needs time. Nevertheless, I know that certain success stories have been achieved in this area as well" concluded the Prime Minister of Georgia.
Head of Government of Georgia listened to the information provided at the meeting by Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, along with his staff on the outcome and output of their efforts in 2019 and projects planned for 2020. Meeting was attended by Deputy Ministers of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, along with the Heads of subordinated legal entities of public law (LEPLs).
Prime Minister of Georgia intends to continue with regular meetings of such format at individual government agencies.
Prime Minister's Press Office