2021-07-01
In line with our ambitious plan, the cumulative investments made by the Government and the private sector in agriculture will amount to 7 billion GEL in coming years, Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili stated during today's presentation of Environmental Protection and Rural Development 2030, a program by the Ministry of Agriculture. According to the Prime Minister, one of the Government's key objectives is to ensure Georgia's greater self-sufficiency.
The Head of Government thanked the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, and his team, for their work and wished them success.
"As you know, we have started working on long-term development plans. The Government has already finalized the initial document, and today we are launching thematic debates. This presentation will be led by Mister Levan Davitashvili. I would like to thank him and his team for their work. They have presented a detailed vision of how our country's agriculture should develop. Let me remind you that, in the course of the past 8 years, the volume of the Government's investments in agriculture has amounted to about 2 billion GEL. In addition, the private sector has also invested about a billion in this area. In line with our ambitious plan, the cumulative investments made by the Government and the private sector in agriculture will amount to 7 billion GEL in coming years. Consequently, we expect progress to be more inclusive. Our key task must be to employ as many citizens as possible and engage them in agriculture. Of course, we intend to develop and empower our regions. Also, one of our key objectives and starting points is to ensure our country's greater self-sufficiency. As you know, we import a number of products. We are not against import, of course, but we too can increase our domestic production, the reason why we are presenting these programs ensuring greater engagement from our citizens and greater inclusiveness. Special thanks to Levan Davitashvili, a highly qualified and professional manager. I wish him success," Irakli Garibashvili said.
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili stated that, on the Prime Minister's initiative, a large-scale financing program for agricultural mechanization will start this year, with its value making up 50 million GEL.
"This program will enjoy 50 million GEL from the state, to enable us to engage thousands of our fellow citizens and farmers. And this means that the program will have almost 6,000 beneficiaries, with at least 2 new pieces of agricultural machinery per village. We will mobilize about 120 million GEL in financial resources for agricultural equipment. It will be an unprecedented state investment in the course of a year, one tailored to suit the needs of concrete farmers, our citizens, who will choose equipment best suited to be put to good use by them," Levan Davitashvili emphasized.
On Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili's initiative, individual Ministries will present their visions under the Government's 10-Year Plan. The Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture is the first agency to have presented its vision of the sector's 10-year development.
Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Levan Davitashvili, Head of the Government Administration's Regional Liaison Department Leri Barnabishvili, and Chairperson of the Parliament's Committee for Agriculture Nino Tsilosani met with beneficiaries of state programs.
The Head of Government inquired into the process of work of enterprises, and the beneficiaries briefed him on the process of entrepreneurial development. Irakli Garibashvili emphasized the importance of exporting Georgian goods.
Press Service of the Government Administration