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Otar Shamugia meets with the Deputy Director General of the Asian Development Bank, Xiaohong Yang.
During the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Otar Shamugia, met with the Deputy Director General of the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Mr Xiaohong Yang, at the Georgian pavilion.
The discussion highlighted the importance of the drainage system development project in Western Georgia, which aims to regulate drainage system management at the legislative level and initiate vital infrastructure projects. Minister Shamugia emphasized the transformative potential of this initiative, noting that drained soil allows for the expansion of arable land, thereby improving the economic prospects of farmers in the region.
Mr. Yang commended the longstanding and fruitful collaboration between ADB and Georgia, focusing on the progress achieved across various sectors. He emphasized the importance of enhancing Georgia's agriculture sector through sustainable development, climate resilience, and efficient natural resource utilization.
The parties also addressed the modernization of agricultural irrigation systems in Georgia, another critical area of collaboration with ADB. As mentioned, climate change creates significant challenges, particularly in water resource management.
“To address these challenges, we have launched the Climate-Smart Irrigation Sector Development Program (2023–2028). This ambitious initiative aims to enhance the sustainability and productivity of Georgia’s agricultural sector. For example, in Kvemo Samgori, covering over 7,300 hectares, outdated open canals will be replaced with modern irrigation systems. This will not only improve water use efficiency but also ensure reliable water access for farmers,” stated Minister Shamugia.
The First Deputy Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mrs. Nino Tandilashvili, and the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Georgia to the Republic of Azerbaijan, Mr. Zurab Pataradze, attended the meeting.