Georgian, Moldovan agriculture ministers talk “common challenges” in wake of EU bids

Georgia and Moldova are facing “common challenges” in the wake of the two countries’ formal European Union membership bids after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, said while stressing the importance of a “positive outcome” of the applications for the two states on Saturday.

Shamugia met his Moldovan counterpart Viorel Gherciu at Vision for the Future: Transition to Digital Agriculture, a ministerial bringing together officials of the field in Azerbaijan’s capital Baku. The two ministers reviewed the significance of “joint efforts” in their EU integration, as well as sharing experience between agencies of their two states.

Georgia expresses its readiness for a closer cooperation [with Moldova] in various fields, including trade and economic relations,” the Georgian Agriculture Ministry cited Shamugia as saying at the meeting.

The Moldovan Minister in his turn emphasised the significance of “active cooperation” between agencies in winemaking, fruit-growing and plant protection, saying by complying with EU provisions and experience-sharing Moldova and Georgia would “achieve common success”.

Questions of diversifying grain markets and food security were also on the agenda of the meeting.

The Georgian Minister also delivered a speech at the ministerial earlier today, raising the topic of his country’s efforts in the field of digitisation of agriculture, and noting Georgia was “open to collaborating with international partners and sharing best practices.”

Shamugia also held a meeting with his Azerbaijani counterpart, Inam Karimov, as well as Qu Dongyu, the Director-General of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, and Pau Roca, the Director-General of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine.