Gov’t promises to support Georgia’s mountain areas in 2016
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The Georgian Government will continue to support Georgia’s high mountain regions to improve the infrastructure and conditions for those living there in a bid to reduce migration from rural areas to the city.
Today Government representatives gathered to outline the 2016 state budget. One of the most priority directions of next year’s budget was developing Georgia’s mountain regions.
At the meeting it was decided the state budget will provide the Ministry of Regional Development and Infrastructure of Georgia with 1 billion GEL.
Half a billion GEL will be spent on improving roads. A fund for regional projects will receive 280 million GEL, while the high mountainous settlements development fund will get 20 million GEL,” said Georgia’s Prime Minister Irakli Garibashvili while outlining how the money will be spent.
He added the Government would continue supporting the ‘Produce in Georgia’ state program. As of today the Agricultural Credit program has financed the cost of building 139 new enterprises and renovating more than 600 businesses. In industrial direction the State has financed 124 enterprises and has invested 350 million GEL in this direction.
Garibashvili promised the Government would continue its three-year program to support spring works, the agriculture insurance program and the ‘Plant the Future’ state program.
The issue of locals abandoning their homes in Georgia’s mountain areas has been a growing problem for decades. The mountain populations tended to leave their homes and migrate to bigger cities to pursue better job opportunities and salary.
To combat this, the Government offered incentives to encourage people to live and work in the alpine areas.
In July 2015 Parliament of Georgia adopted a new law on the development of Georgia’s mountain regions, which will come into force on January 1, 2016. With this law the mountain population will enjoy greater benefits, promised the Government.
Meanwhile, 8,000 farmers have already experienced initial benefits from the Government’s initiative to support those in the high mountain regions. The Government erased farmers’ loans, valued at about 26 million GEL.
PM Garibashvili said this and other action to develop the mountain areas was one of the biggest achievements of his Government. He said measures needed to be taken in order to stop migration from the mountains and develop the country’s rural areas.
The Government of Georgia is making amendments to the State Property Law to encourage farmers to work the agricultural sector without facing financial obstacles.
People living in Georgia’s mountain areas will enjoy the first part of a benefits scheme on January 1, 2016 when the new mountain law comes into force.
The Government of Georgia is introducing a new law to encourage people to live and work in Georgia’s mountain regions.
Georgia is taking measures to further develop small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the country, support entrepreneurs, improve regional markets and increase local salaries to create a better, stronger Georgia.
Three new enterprise projects will be established within the ‘Produce in Georgia’ state program, which supports development of industry in Georgia.
The Georgian Government is continuing its dialogue with local business leaders, introducing them to current and future reforms, and offering a supportive hand to the wider business community as it carries out its activities.
The Government of Georgia is stepping up its support for local businesses, encouraging the creation of new enterprises and developing production-oriented industries, which will all contribute to Georgia’s development.
The pension is increasing for retired citizens living in Georgia’s high mountain areas.
New orchards will be planted on 365ha in Georgia’s Shida Kartli region within the state-run project Plant the Future, aiming to stimulate the region’s agricultural industry.
The Prime Minister of Georgia Giorgi Kvirikahsvili stated today that the Government would be particularly focused on development of Georgian regions.
A walnut orchard will be planted over several hectares of land in Georgia’ north-western Racha region using state funds from a governmental project aimed at stimulating regional agriculture.
Initially the list identified 1,582 high mountain villages but today an additional 99 villages was added to the list. Residents of these 99 villages will now be able to reap the benefits of the new Mountain Law.
Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili is going to Switzerland to discuss ways of developing Georgia’s mountain regions with Swiss experts.
Top experts from Switzerland are teaming up with Georgian officials to create a master plan for the development of Georgia’s mountainous Tusheti area.
Georgia’s capital Tbilisi will host a Swiss senior official in September. President of the National Council, the lower house of the Federal Assembly of Switzerland Christa Marwalder announced her Georgia visit today.
Creating better living conditions in Georgian mountain areas so locals don’t have to leave their home villages is one of the Georgian Government’s new target areas and projects are planned to achieve this.
Social assistance rules eased for rural population
Tough rules currently in place that make it difficult for people living in Georgia’s high mountain regions to receive social assistance, are being simplified so people in these areas can enjoy better living conditions.
Gov’t announces major development plan
Georgia’s Government has announced an ambitious urban development plan that will develop all parts of the economy to bring equal conditions for all regions and help the country use its full potential to improve the lives of citizens.
Building a better Georgia for all
"We have experienced yesterday, we are living today and now we are now beginning to see Georgia’s future, which is slowly becoming reality.”
Georgia continues to develop its rural aviation infrastructure by injecting new life into several of the country’s old airports to improve access to hard-to-reach areas.
506 fully equipped orchards have been financed by the government Plant the Future project across Georgia.
Georgia has updated its list of alpine villages, meaning the locals of additional 37 villages can enjoy special benefits guaranteed by the Mountain Law.