Georgia and China develop agricultural ties

Georgia and China stand at the beginning of a new stage of relations where agriculture is the focus.

Thanks to Chinese support, more than 30 greenhouses will be built in Marneuli – a town in the Kvemo Kartli region of southern Georgia. In addition, China will provide Georgia with irrigation/reclamation machinery worth $9 million USD.

These activities were a result of a cooperation project titled ‘Vegetable Cultivation Technology in Georgia’, which was signed between Georgia and China on November 18, 2014. The two-year project aimed to increase Georgia’s cultivation of herbs and implement new technologies as a way to stimulate the industry.

Today, Georgia’s Agriculture Minister Otar Danelia held talks with his counterpart from the People’s Republic of China, Han Changfu, about implementing joint projects in the agricultural sector.

Changfu and an official delegation from China are on an official visit to Georgia to share their country’s agricultural experience with Georgia. At today’s meeting the sides spoke about a range of industry activities, such as tea growing, fish farming and fish processing technologies and more.

At the meeting the Georgian and Chinese sides emphasised the importance of increasing trade relationship between the two nations. Currently China is included in the top five largest trade partners of Georgia.

On another note China is one of the most important importer countries of Georgian wine. In January-February 2015, Georgian wine exports to China increased by 66.4 percent compared to the same period of the previous year.

"It is very important that Chinese investments have been increasing significantly in Georgia’s economy. We plan to strengthen more trade and economic ties,” said Danelia.

Georgia’s Agriculture Minister recalled that China had donated 30 units of modern equipment to Georgia in 2014. Danelia said this equipment was successfully used for ongoing irrigation works.

"This year China will donate 26 units for irrigation worth $10,764,000 USD,” Danelia said.

In response, Changfu said agriculture was one of the most promising opportunities where both countries could develop trade relations.

"Georgian wine has a huge potential to establish itself not only in the Chinese but the world market. At the same time it is very important to support tea culture. We want to share our experience in this direction, which will be very useful for Georgia,” Changfu said.

Georgia has already developed a strategy and Action Plan for developing the agricultural industry, and this was "a guarantee for great success in this sector,” he added.