Agriculture Minister: Georgian enterprises have no resources to export dairy products
Georgia’s National Food Agency said on March 6 negotiations were underway with various countries on export of animal products in order to diversify the market. Photo: mepa.gov.ge
Tweet 
Share
Georgia is dependent on import of dairy products “to some extent”, and enterprises in the country have no resources to export such goods on various markets, Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia said on Wednesday.
Making the comments following a public controversy over the Russian Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision agency Rosselkhoznadzor’s approval last week for 15 Georgian companies to supply milk and dairy products to Russia, Shamugia said the country’s “priority market” was the European Union.
The Minister also recalled “communications with the member states of the Eurasian Union" - economic union involving Russia, Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, and Kyrgyzstan - in 2020 regarding export of animal products “at the request of our entrepreneurs to support their activities,” adding the request was approved by the Russian authorities several days ago.
The Georgian Government aims to encourage farmers and entrepreneurs to access various markets, and the country has “concrete results” in this direction, the official said, citing a “significant increase” in exports to various markets, including European countries.
Shamugia also pointed out the state’s efforts for the introduction of the standards and regulations necessary for export of animal products, noting exports of Georgian honey to the EU had increased nine times in 2021 compared to the previous year.
Georgia’s National Food Agency said on March 6 negotiations were underway with various countries on export of animal products in order to diversify the market.
The Head of the National Food Agency Zurab Chekurashvili announced on March 3 Georgia would export both animal and plant products, including small and large cattle and locally produced honey to Saudi Arabia.
In January 2022, Georgia exported locally produced goods worth $331.3 million, a 47.6 percent increase year-on-year.