Georgia’s Agriculture Minister, US Agriculture Department Regional Director discuss cooperation
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia on Thursday met Michael Francom, the Regional Director of the United States Department of Agriculture. Photo: Ministry of Agriculture
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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.
The Ministry cited Shamugia as thanking Francom for “years of support” provided by the USDA and praised the “fruitful” cooperation between the Department and the Ministry.
We jointly implement many programmes and have significant results. In agriculture, our priority directions are the support and development of the cattle breeding sector, the promotion of the introduction of modern technologies and food safety standards, and the promotion of agricultural food products”, he said.
Shamugia added the Government’s support of farmers and entrepreneurs with “targeted programmes” would “certainly continue”.
We are actively working to fulfil the obligations imposed by the Association Agreement [signed between Georgia and the European Union in 2014] in agriculture and environmental protection. After receiving the EU membership candidate status, the support of USDA and our other partners will be even more important”, the Minister said.
At the meeting, Shamugia drew attention to the Kansas State University study Evaluation of Georgia's Wheat Sector, carried out with the support of the USDA, and highlighted the results of the research and existing challenges in wheat production and sale.
In his turn, Francom noted receiving the EU membership candidate status would be an “important step forward” for Georgia and highlighted the country’s role in the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route between Southeast Asia and Europe through the South Caucasus.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, on Tuesday said it was “important” to plan new programmes with the European Union and define future priorities to make the country's agriculture policy “more compatible” with that of the bloc.
Nino Tandilashvili, the Georgian Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, on Friday discussed joint projects and prospects for future cooperation with Michelle Koscielski, the Economic Growth Director of the United States Agency for International Development.
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.
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.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, on Monday featured in the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in the United Arab Emirates, and met counterparts from the Czech Republic and Japan at the event.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, on Tuesday discussed prospects for future cooperation with Mukhtar Babayev, the Azerbaijani Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, in a meeting held as part of the United Nations Climate Change Conference hosted in the United Arab Emirates.
Cooperation between Georgia and the United States in agriculture and environmental protection was discussed on Thursday in a meeting between the Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia and Robin Dunnigan, the US Ambassador to the country.
Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, on Thursday discussed ongoing projects and prospects for future cooperation with Liam Chicca, the Regional Director of the International Fund for Agricultural Development during their meeting in Tbilisi.
Otar Shamugia, the Georgian Minister of Agriculture and Environmental Protection, on Thursday discussed the “significant success” of the country on the path of European integration during his meeting with Virginijus Sinkevičius, the European Commissioner for the Environment, Oceans and Fisheries in Brussels.