Georgia is seeking alternative sources of wheat supply. Georgian Agriculture Minister Mikhail Svimonishvili told Trends special correspondent that Kazakh variant is being considered.
Minister said Kazakhstan is erecting a terminal in Azerbaijan to purchase wheat from, if necessary. В"There is no such need today as we have wheat enough to supply ourselvesВ", minister said.
Main suppliers of wheat to Georgia are Russia and Ukraine, but this year they can cu supplies due to harvest shortage over frosts.
Georgia consumes nearly 800kt of what a year, and internal agriculture covers just 20-25% of this amount. This year wheat harvest in the republic is expected in amount 200kt. According to the Agriculture Ministry, 561.1kt of wheat and dough have been imported in Georgia during 2005, and 67.5% of this amount fell to Russia.
As to the Azeri terminal, Svimonishvili said, this is the business of private companies.