EU, Sweden and Austria provide €6.8 mln to develop Georgian mountain tourism and organic agriculture
Representatives of the EU, Sweden and Austrian signed a contract to start the project in Georgia. Photo: Delegation of the EU to Georgia.
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The European Union, Sweden and Austria are teaming up to develop mountain tourism and organic agriculture in Georgia’s Zemo Svaneti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti, and Imereti mountainous regions with a budget of €6.8 million.
Representatives of the EU, Sweden and Austrian signed a contract on International Mountain Day to start the ‘Green Economy: Sustainable Mountain Tourism and Organic Agriculture (GRETA)’ project in Georgia.
The four year project will start in 2019 and will be funded by:
- The European Commission - €3 million
- Sweden - €2.8 million
- The Austrian Development Cooperation - €1 million
The EU believes in the great potential of Georgia's mountainous regions. This project will boost economic development and raise incomes in mountainous regions, while fully respecting and preserving their natural beauty and cultural heritage. I am grateful that two EU Member states, Sweden and Austria, with great experience in this field, have joined forces with us on this project to support Georgia”, said Ambassador of the European Union Carl Hartzell.
A total of 66 million GEL will be spent on developing mountainous regions in Georgia, to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there. The money is allocated by the National Council for Mountain Development and the Fund for the Development of the Highlands of Georgia will be spent on projects that are included to Georgia’s new mountain development strategy.
The government of Georgia is redoubling efforts to avoid the reduction of population in mountainous areas of the country, initiating an increase of the list of high mountainous settlements and accordingly the number of beneficiaries of the Mountain Law.
The residents of 14 more villages can now enjoy special benefits guaranteed by the Mountain Law, announced the government of Georgia. Upgrading the living standards of the populations of mountainous areas is one of the top objectives of the government, said Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
The Georgian government will continue to support Georgia’s high mountain regions to improve infrastructure and conditions for those living there in a bid to reduce migration from rural areas to the city.
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The European Commission has disbursed €15 million in loans to help Georgia cover part of its financing needs and support the implementation of economic reforms.
The European Union has transferred 110 million GEL(about $ 41.28m/€36.8m) to the government of Georgia in acknowledgement of government reforms conducted in 2017 and 2018.
The Swedish government will allocate 2.3 million USD to provide support for Georgian small and medium-sized businesses, which work in the fields of information and communication technologies, business consulting, internet design and architecture.
The fourth national tourism awards of ‘Welcome to Georgia!’ revealed 23 winners in different nominations, announced the awards organisers.
Georgian Foreign Minister David Zalkaliani has visited Sweden for the first time in eight years, having held meetings with the State Secretary to Minister for EU Affairs Paula Carvalho Olovsson, head of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) Carin Jamtin and members of the Georgian diaspora.
The Hub for Healthy Gastronomy and Organic Products in the Mountains (GRETA Hub) has launched in Tsageri, a small mountainous town in western Georgia’s Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region.
The European Union, Sweden and Austria have allocated €1.16 million under the Local Development Initiative (LDI) to support the organic agriculture sector of Georgia.
The EU, Sweden and Austria are calling for grant proposals under the Tourism Development Initiative (TDI) in tourism development for the mountainous Georgian municipalities of Mestia, Lentekhi, Tsageri, Oni, Ambrolauri, Sachkhere, Chiatura and Tkibuli.