‘EMBRACE Tsalka’: EU launches €2.4 mln rural development project in Georgia

The European Union (EU) has launched a new €2.4 million rural development project ‘EMBRACE Tsalka’ in Georgia’s Tsalka Municipality.

The project aims to provide support to entrepreneurs, women, youth and other local actors by improving access to knowledge and innovation, introducing best practices, creating public-private partnerships and business linkages, as well as generating new employment opportunities by utilising the development potential of the area.

Tsalka is a multi-ethnic and multi-cultural municipality in the Kvemo Kartli region with 30 communities comprised of 43 villages and Tsalka town. The primary economic activity in Tsalka municipality is agriculture.

This municipality has many challenges but also great potential. It is exciting to see what we can achieve here, whether it is in agriculture, bio-production, tourism or sustainable management of natural resources. We strongly believe that it is with local people’s energies, bringing in all groups and categories that the area can develop”, said Vincent Rey of the EU Delegation to Georgia.

Presentation of the ‘EMBRACE Tsalka' was held on March 19. Photo: ENPARD Georgia. 

‘EMBRACE Tsalka’ is implemented under the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) by EU’s partner organisation CENN, in partnership with the Georgian Farmers’ Association (GFA) and German partner organisation - Institute for Rural Development Research (IfLS).

The EU-supported rural development projects have been successfully implemented in eight municipalities in Georgia. This year, under the third phase of ENPARD, similar projects will be launched in four new municipalities. Tsalka is among them. These projects aim to support municipal development through establishing effective local public-private partnerships”, said Khatia Tsilosani, Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.

This year, EU launches rural development projects in four new municipalities including Tsalka, Akhmeta, Tskaltubo, and Mestia.