Georgian, Finnish agriculture ministers discuss deepening cooperation

Prospects of deepening bilateral cooperation between Georgia and Finland were discussed on Friday in a meeting between Otar Shamugia, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, and his Finnish counterpart Sari Essayah.

Shamugia briefed Essayah on the country’s policy in agriculture and progress achieved in recent years, while also noting Georgia as a European Union candidate country “actively continued” its efforts to fulfil its obligations in integration with the bloc.

The agricultural sector of Georgia plays an important role in the country’s economy. Since 2012, the Georgian Government has taken important and unprecedented steps for the development of agriculture and rural areas, which was manifested in large state investments in these directions”, the Georgian Minister said.

The Government implements about 20 state programmes in agriculture to ensure access to preferential financial resources for farmers, introduction of international standards and increase in competitiveness”, he said.

The Georgian official also noted ongoing works in Georgia to implement principles of sustainable forest management, adding with the support of the EU the country had developed and adopted a new forest code in 2020.

He added the code ensured improvement of quantitative and qualitative indicators of forests in Georgia, protection of biodiversity, effective use of their economic potential, public participation in forest management and “fair distribution” of benefits.

On her part, Essayah noted Georgia's “effective process” of harmonising its laws with the EU and pointed out the country was taking “active steps” towards joining the bloc.