Tbilisi, Georgia, May 20
By Nana Kirtzkhalia - Trend:
The budget for the new Georgian governmental program, 'Produce in Georgia', was set at 46 million GEL, roughly the equivalent of 26.3 million USD.
About 65% of this amount was budgeted for the production and processing of agricultural products, while the rest will be used for manufacturing industrial goods.
"The program's purpose is to stimulate local production," Georgian Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili said at the presentation of 'Produce in Georgia' on May 19.
The program guarantees access to three main industrial components: finance, infrastructure and consulting services.
Moreover, 'Produce in Georgia' will promote production-oriented industries, chosen based on volume of import and local production capacity.
Priority will be given to agriculture, including horticulture and gardening, livestock farms, poultry farms, leather processing, bay leaf production, tobacco, tea, nuts, development of high-tech greenhouses, and processing of fruits, berries, vegetables and citrus plants.
The program also targets the production of paper and paperboard, building materials, textile, chemicals, wood processing, electrical appliances, machinery, pharmaceuticals, finished steel products, and rubber and plastic products.