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

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Otar Shamugia delivers remarks at the Ministerial Meeting in Dijon, France.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Otar Shamugia,  delivered remarks at the Ministerial Meeting in Dijon, France. The event was organized by the International Vine and Wine Organization (OIV) as part of its centenary celebrations.

"From all the honorable tribunes, I am proud to say that I represent Georgia, the homeland of wine. With 8,000 years of continuous history in viticulture and winemaking, it is an integral part of our culture and identity. At the same time, viticulture and winemaking are key drivers of our present economy, representing one of the leading sectors and an important contributor to our nation’s growth’’, stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr. Shamugia, at the Ministerial in the city of Dijon.

The Ministerial meeting, which gathered Ministers and high-ranking officials from 30 countries, served as a platform for Georgia to highlight its growing influence in the global wine industry. 

According to Minister Shamugia, the quality and unique taste of Georgian wine are its key hallmarks. Over the past few years, Georgian wine exports have surged, with up to 100 million liters of wine now being sold in 70 countries worldwide. "Demand for Georgian wine is growing as it gains popularity in more markets," he added.

In his address, Shamugia emphasized the importance of collaboration with the OIV in promoting and developing the Georgian wine industry. "We look forward to continuing our productive cooperation with the OIV, which has been instrumental in supporting the development and global promotion of Georgian wines.  This partnership is especially crucial as Georgia pursues its path as an EU candidate country,"  noted the Minister.
To mark the centenary of OIV, the participants adopted a declaration reaffirming their commitment to the organization's role as an intergovernmental, scientific, and technical leader in the wine and vine sector. "The adoption of this declaration signifies our unified commitment to advancing the sector and tackling its challenges together," said Shamugia.

The Georgian delegation in Dijon also included Mr. Levan Mekhuzla, Head of the National Wine Agency, and Mrs. Ekaterine Kokaia, Acting Ambassador of Georgia to France.

It is worth mentioning that the International Organization of Vine and Wine (OIV) was founded in Paris, on November 29, 1924, by the joint agreement of Italy, France, Spain, Luxembourg, Tunisia, Hungary, Greece, and Portugal. 

Today, the OIV has 50 member countries, 18 observer organizations, and over 500 industry experts working to make recommendations on wine production, winemaking practices, viticulture, and grape processing while assisting international organizations and setting global wine standards.