Economy Minister: no problem expected in supply of wheat, flour
In 2021 Georgia purchased 367,000 tons of wheat worth $93.5 million, of which 338,000 tons of wheat worth $87.4 million was from Russia and 24.4 thousand tons of wheat worth $4.6 million was from the United States. Photo: mepa.gov.ge
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Problems related to the supply of wheat and flour in Georgia are neither observed nor expected, Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said on Wednesday, adding it was foreseeable the export tax would be removed and the country would be able to buy wheat “on better terms and cheaper.”
In an interview with Palitra News, Davitashvili also said Georgia had “various alternatives” to importing wheat from Russia, naming Eastern European countries and Kazakhstan, and adding the focus is to “buy [it] cheaper.”
Davitashvili also responded to sanctions imposed against Russia by countries worldwide due to its military invasion of Ukraine which started on February 24, saying the “scope of [Georgia's] capabilities” should be taken into consideration in discussions around joining the sanctions.
Neither oil products, energy carriers nor agro-food products are sanctioned, this is a decision of the international community [...] Every decision must be made responsibly, and European countries also act within that responsibility,” Davitashvili said.
In 2021 Georgia purchased 367,000 tons of wheat worth $93.5 million, of which 338,000 tons of wheat worth $87.4 million was from Russia and 24.4 thousand tons of wheat worth $4.6 million was from the United States.
There is no need for Georgian citizens to stock up on food products as supply lines are working, Levan Davitashvili, the Georgian Economy Minister, has told the public amid claims the country might be facing a shortage due to the war in Ukraine.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia has said no shortage in stocks of food and primary consumer goods is observed in Georgia following the outbreak of hostilities in Ukraine last month, stressing the importance of maintaining a “stable supply” of products in the market and avoiding “unreasonable price increases”.
Macroeconomic parameters in Georgia are “very healthy and stable” and depreciation of the Georgian lari exchange rate is mainly caused by “emotional factors,” Georgian Economy Minister Levan Davitashvili said on Tuesday.
The Georgian government has demonstrated a very high level of crisis management several times, Levan Davitashvili, the Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, said on Tuesday.
There will be “no delays” in terms of product supplies for Georgian consumers, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Thursday.
Shamugia made the comment responding to speculation over a possible lack of availability of products in connection to the conflict in Ukraine, while also urging the public to refrain from buying in bulk to avoid an artificial increase in prices.
Georgian farmers will be able to get low-interest loans for production of annual crops, following latest changes to the preferential agro-credit state programme, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia announced on Monday.
Georgia has wheat resources enough for more than a month and more can be imported if necessary for food security, Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili said earlier today.
Georgia has the resources to increase its wheat self-sufficiency to 50 percent, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Wednesday, noting the state was ready to develop “stimulating projects” aimed at increasing wheat production in the country.
Georgia’s Agriculture Ministry on Friday dismissed fears for wheat flour shortage in the country following comments on the expected halt of wheat processing facilities due to suspension of wheat imports.
Malkhaz Dolidze, the Head of the Georgian Bread Manufacturers Union, on Monday said the price of the product in Georgia is not expected to increase until the end of May, following a recent particle increase.