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Otar Shamugia attends the Conference "LEADER: A European approach to better Rural Lives "
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia, and the Ambassador of the European Union to Georgia Mr. Pawel Herczynski delivered opening remarks at the Conference "LEADER: A European Approach to Better Rural Lives ".
During the conference, the parties summed up the results of the EU-funded Program "ENPARD-Georgia", which serves to introduce European rural development models in Georgia, reduce poverty in rural areas and ensure a sustainable future for Georgian farmers and rural communities.
The sides also reviewed achievements, and challenges and brought forward future steps and activities to take for rural development in Georgia.
"The European Union has been assisting us for many years and is our active supporter in the rural-agricultural development, as well as environmental protection fields. Within the framework of the respective project, several important events were financed with the involvement of international organizations. Support was provided to more than 1900 farmers in different areas, and several strategies and legislations were developed. The institutional reform of the Ministry is underway, as well as the process of reforming the Rural Development Agency into a paying agency, etc. I am confident, that the fourth phase of the program will be equally successful. This support is crucial for our country", said Mr. Otar Shamugia, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia.
According to the Minister, the Government of Georgia has been taking significant steps over the years to promote the sustainable development of rural areas. This critical work is in line with Georgia’s national priorities on the path to European integration.
“Rural development is an important cooperation area between the European Union and Georgia. Sustainable, inclusive, and green rural economies push people out of poverty, create employment, and set out a pathway to sustainable growth benefitting people and the environment. Georgia has achieved steady progress in the last ten years in modernizing its rural development through policies and practical initiatives. The European Union salutes these achievements and remains committed to supporting new opportunities for rural communities,” stated Mr. Pawel Herczynski, Ambassador of the European Union in Georgia, during his opening remarks.
Within the framework of the conference, an exhibition of Georgian agro-food products was held.
The fourth phase of ENPARD funded by the EU with EURO 55 million will be implemented in 2021-2025. The main focus of the program will be set on the development and implementation of rural development policies, moreover, the respective program will ensure farmers' and entrepreneurs’ access to the European market.
The conference ‘LEADER: A European Approach to Better Rural Lives’ was organized with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Action Against Hunger (AAH), CARE Caucasus, CENN, and People in Need.
The Representatives of the Austrian Development Agency and the Embassy of the Czech Republic, the Government of Georgia, the Parliament and local self-government, non-governmental organizations, companies working in rural areas, local development groups (LAGs), and international partners participated in the conference.
It should be mentioned, that the "ENPARD - Georgia" program has been running for ten years in the country. The EU has supported Georgia through the ENPARD program and assisted to align the country’s institutional, legal and administrative systems with EU standards, including sharing the best practices of the EU member states with the Georgian partners.