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The project GQSP-Georgia to ensure capacity building of the Georgian Laboratory Association (GeLab)
The first Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Giorgi Khanishvili attended an online meeting hosted by the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO) on the latter’s ongoing project “Global Quality and Standards Programme (GQSP) – Georgia”. The respective meeting fostered validation of the Georgian Laboratory Association.“Apart from an increasing production and export of the Georgian production, demand on standards, certification and laboratory services. It is of utmost importance for us to ensure capacity building of laboratories in Georgia, which has a direct connection to complying with the requirements of Georgia as set forth in the Association Agreement with the European Union. Moreover, these laboratories shall be capable to provide services, which have been tied to the market demands. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to ensure technical equipment, training of staff, cultivation of new methods and accreditation of library, which enjoys a major assistance from the donor organizations, that we highly value” – Deputy Minister Khanishvili stated.
As attendees stressed out, in frames of the GQSP – Georgia project, capacity building of the Georgian Laboratory Association (GeLab) is underway, which assists various programming for enhancing the needs of those laboratories. Various consultations and trainings will be organized for the accreditation endeavors and through enhancing the respective areas; qualification examinations will also be hosted; apart from comparison of the laboratories (PT/ILC), thus, supporting recruitment of young staffers, enhancing cooperation with various stakeholders (government agencies, donor organizations, associations, and etc.). In frames of the meetings, international experts have issued recommendations, which will foster enhancement of laboratory network of Georgia and improving service quality.
At the primary stage of the GQSP – Georgia project, research of the value chain will be implemented – “capacity building of fruit and vegetables/research of the value chain”; the recommendations enlisted in the document aim at supporting existing laboratories in Georgia, which shall unite challenges and identify obstacles; the respective services shall be provided and enhanced. The respective research is accessible on the UNIDO’s web-page in Georgian and English languages.
Online meeting was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Parliament of Georgia and laboratories accredited in the country; along with international experts.