Georgia's new snail farm to export 1,000 tonnes to France
The Tsilkani plant employs 100 people, including locals, and has been launched with the support of Enterprise Georgia. Photo: Ministry of Economy
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A new Georgian processing plant will produce 1,000 tonnes of snails annually for export to France, the Ministry of Economy announced on Wednesday.
Launched in the central-eastern Georgia’s village of Tsilkani, the plant is a result of a ₾7 million (about $2.38mln/€2.27mln) investment by Georgian company Timeo.
Snails produced by Timeo will be completely exported to France. Photo: Ministry of Economy
The Ministry said the company had signed a deal with French partners Escal, with the latter intending to "fully purchase” its products.
The Tsilkani plant employs 100 people, including locals, and has been launched with the support of Enterprise Georgia.
The state programme is financing 65 projects worth ₾200 million (about $68.03mln/€64.89mln) in the central-eastern Mtskheta-Mtianeti region.
A new farm established in western Georgia with support of the government will export 45 tons of snails to Italy this year.
Farmers in 22 municipalities of Georgia will have the opportunity to obtain co-financing under a 3.2 million GEL (about $1m/€0.92m) grant programme offered by the European Union (EU), the Agriculture Ministry of Georgia and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for the purchase and installation of modern drip irrigation systems.
Georgian company established a year ago in the Georgian region of Shida Kartli will export its preserved fruit and vegetables to the United States. A total of 212 new enterprises have been financed in Georgia within the United Agro Project from 2013, including 26 in Shida Kartli.
A snail farm has opened in the western Georgian region of Samegrelo within the the state-run United Agro Project. A total of 200 new enterprises have been financed in Georgia within the United Agro Project, including 25 in Samegrelo.