10 million GEL allocated for Georgia’s mountain areas
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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.
At today’s government meeting Georgia’s Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili announced that out of 20 million GEL (about $8.24m/€6.63m*) allocated for the high mountainous settlements development fund, 10 million GEL (about $4.12m/€3.31m*) will be spent on infrastructure projects.
More specifically, 3 million GEL (about $1.24m/€994,360*) will be allocated for the program "Plant the Future” to cultivate berries in high mountain settlements. Meanwhile, 7 million GEL will be allocated for the rational use of state-owned hay-meadow and pasture lands, which were created for developing agricultural cooperatives.
Developing the mountainous areas of the country is one of the priorities for the government of Georgia.
In July 2015, the parliament of Georgia adopted a new law on the development of Georgia’s mountain regions, which came into force on January 1, 2016.
*Currency conversions reflect National Bank of Georgia values as of today.
The Georgian Government will continue to support Georgia’s high mountain regions to improve standards of life there.
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.
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.
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 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.
Georgian farmers have presented their produce at the Co-op Market organised by the Agricultural Cooperatives Development Agency to mark the international day of cooperatives.
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.
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 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.
Locals to choose how to spend the budget
A government programme aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia has resumed after a two-year pause.
Residents of Georgian villages will receive twice as much funding as was previously allocated within the within the framework of a special government programme aimed at supporting rural development in Georgia.
Georgian Prime Minister Mamuka Bakhtadze has praised the government’s rural support programme, aimed at supporting rural development across Georgia and said this is “one of his favourite programmes”.
People living in the village of Bakhmaro in Guria region of Georgia will soon get benefits guaranteed by the Mountain Law, announces the government of Georgia.