Finance Minister signs €70mln deal with French Development Agency to develop irrigation, agriculture
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili signed a €70 million framework agreement with the French Development Agency. Photo: Ministry of Finance
Tweet 
Share
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Monday signed a €70 million framework agreement with the French Development Agency for developing irrigation systems for agriculture across the country.
The Ministry of Finance said half of the amount would be spent on tasks including modernisation of the Zemo Samgori irrigation channel in the capital city of Tbilisi, and increasing effective production of quality agricultural produce.
It will also be used to fund improving availability of food for the local population and competitiveness of Georgian products on regional markets, as well as implementing a sustainable irrigation system in response to climate change challenges.
The other half will be used for a budget support programme for the state policy for sustainable and inclusive management of irrigation resources, strengthening of the policy and institutional framework to ensure integration of climate-smart practices in agriculture and water management, and improving governance and risk management of Georgian Reclamation, an organisation specialising in water supply for homes and business facilities.
Georgian Infrastructure Minister Irakli Karseladze on Thursday presented the summary of the work of his office throughout 2022 to the Parliament, highlighting construction and renovation of road infrastructure, water supply and drainage systems, educational and sports infrastructure projects, and projects implemented within the Renewed Regions programme.
Georgian Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia on Tuesday announced the launch of a $150 million project jointly financed by the Government of Georgia and the World Bank and aimed to benefit farmers and enterprises by enhancing irrigation services, land management and agricultural support.
Cooperation between Georgia and France in agriculture was in the focus of a meeting between Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Agriculture Minister, and his French colleague Marc Fesneau on Thursday.
The International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will allocate €46.2 million for enabling development of sustainable agriculture, irrigation and land market in Georgia, the Ministry of Finance of Georgia announced on Monday.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili on Wednesday said the country’s “correct and healthy” macroeconomic and fiscal policy, implemented during the pandemic and post-pandemic periods, had aided in a “rapid economic recovery” and maintained macroeconomic stability and credit ratings.
Georgian Finance Minister Lasha Khutsishvili and Lesley Bearman Lahm, the Asian Development Bank Country Director for Georgia on Friday signed a $48 million loan agreement for modernising the irrigation systems for agriculture in the country and supporting institutional reforms.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and Michael Francom, the Regional Director of the United States Department of Agriculture, on Thursday discussed topics of agricultural trade, cattle breeding industry and related challenges in a meeting held in Tbilisi.