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

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Otar Shamugia gets familiar with the activities of the hazelnut processing enterprise.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture Mr.Otar Shamugia, and Mr. Giorgi Urushadze, the State Representative of the Guria region, inspected the hazelnut processing plant of the company "Global Export" in Ozurgeti Municipality. Mrs.  Nino Tsilosani, the Chairman of the Agrarian Issues Committee of the Parliament of Georgia, and Mr. Avtandil Talakvadze, the Mayor of Ozurgeti Municipality, accompanied the Minister.

According to Mr. Otar Shamugia, one of the crops that Georgia has the potential for large-scale production and export is hazelnuts. In 2021, the income from the hazelnuts export exceeded USD 115 million; The largest share of exports comes to EU countries.

"The state is taking active measures to support the production of quality Georgian hazelnuts; therefore, we launched a new program to promote the production of hazelnuts and ensure the quality and competitiveness of the Georgian hazelnuts, the program helps our farmers to receive a decent income," Mr. Otar Shamugia stated.

As stated by the representative of the respective company, Mrs Tamar Archvadze, the new program is crucial because the production of quality hazelnuts will increase the farmers' income and the productivity of the company and make Georgian hazelnuts even more competitive in international markets.

In 2014, the hazelnut processing enterprise was created in the country with an investment of GEL 1.5 million. With the support of the ‘’InnovFin SME Guarantee Facility’’, the company enjoyed the benefits of a credit line of 1.4 million euros. The European Union provides financial support to the company within the ‘’Horizon 2020 Financial Instruments’’.

In 2021, the company expanded its activities and used preferential agro-credit worth GEL 1.5 million to purchase modern equipment. The enterprise has developed a new direction to produce roasted, blanched, and chopped hazelnuts and hazelnut flour. As a result, the number of employees and the volume of exports increased.

The company "Global Export" Ltd. employs more than 100 residents; moreover, it prepares hazelnut kernels, flour and paste for export and sells products in Italy and the Czech Republic. In 2022, the enterprise exported up to 2,000 tonnes of products.