Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia

The 30th meeting of the National Animal Health Program (NAHP) Steering Group was held at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture. The First Deputy Minister of  Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Nodar Kereselidze headed the meeting. The activities undertaken by the steering group within 10 years while working on animal health issues has been highlighted by the First Deputy who made a welcoming and opening speech at the session. Nodar Kereselidze thanked members of the steering group and congratulated them on achieved success.
"Over the last ten years, the number of the steering group members as well as the involvement of donors and private sector has been significantly increased; Consolidated work is very important, cooperation between the state and the private sector is essential for achieving the goals set within the National Animal Health Program " - said Nodar Kereselidze.
As the First Deputy Minister noted at the meeting, in 2019, after the completion of the USDA Program, the responsibility for the management of the steering group will be handed over to the Ministry of Environmental  Protection and Agriculture of Georgia. 
"The animal health issue has always been actual, therefore, during the transition period I would like  to ask for your special support and assistance. The overall goal for us is to strengthen and further develop the results obtained over the years " - said Nodar Kereselidze.
At the meeting, the participants have been focused on measures taken in the supervision and control of animal diseases. The representatives of the National Food Agency, Laboratory of the Ministry, National Center for Disease Control and Public Health highlighted current activities and drew their attention to future plans.
The representatives of the Caucasus Alliance Program and Veterinarian Regional Associationsof Shida Kartli region attended the meeting. The representatives of the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), Colorado State University (CSU), Rural Development Program of the Georgian Institute of Public Affairs GIPA,United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA), Austrian Development Agency (ADA), Switzerland Cooperation Office (SCO) in Georgia attended the meeting.