BAKU, Azerbaijan, June 2
By Tamilla Mammadova – Trend:
First Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia Giorgi Khanishvili and USAID Mission Director in Georgia Peter Wiebler visited Kvemo-Kartli region, where they attended the opening ceremony of a new fruit storage company Agrocomplex LLC, Trend reports citing Georgian media.
Agrocomplex LLC is a beneficiary of the project of co-financing of processing and storage enterprises. In general, more than 2 million lari ($643,679) was invested in this enterprise, of which 600,000 lari ($193,103) is a grant, and 1,5 million lari ($482,759) are soft agricultural loans.
The company employs 15 people. The company plans to sell its products in the local market.
“The number of refrigeration and processing enterprises in Georgia exceeds 200 units. With the opening of a new enterprise, the population and farmers living in Kvemo Kartli will receive additional benefits, and more jobs will be created,” said Georgi Khanishvili.
“Today, the foundation was laid for the next cooperation stage between the USAID, the Agency for Rural and Agricultural Development of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture and the private sector. The purpose of this cooperation is to ensure economic activity in the Kvemo Kartli region, which will help local farmers increase their incomes, and the country - to stimulate economic growth. Thanks to agricultural activities, the Kvemo-Kartli region is an important contributor to the Georgian economy. USAID supports private sector development in the region,” said Peter Wiebler.
Wiebler and Khanishvili also inspected a table grape variety garden set up under the Sow the Future state program.
"As for the new orchards of table grape varieties, this is another step forward in the production of Georgian agricultural products. Georgia is not spoiled by the production of table grapes. And with the support of the government, in 2-3 years we will be able to start exporting this grape," Wiebler said.
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