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David Songulashvili Visits “Babaneuri Winery”
Mr. David Songulashvili, the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, accompanied by Mr. Giorgi Aladashvili, State Representative of the Kakheti Region, Mr. Irakli Kadagishvili, Chair of the Committee on Regional Policy and Self-Government, and Mr. Giorgi Darchia, Director of the Rural Development Agency, visited the village of Babaneuri in the Akhmeta Municipality.
During the visit, the delegation toured the “Babaneuri Winery,” a wine cellar established with state support.
Founded in 2016 through the Preferential Agrocredit Program, “Babaneuri Winery” received GEL 500,000 in funding for setting up and organising its wine cellar. Today, the winery produces between 8,000 and 10,000 bottles of wine annually and exports its products to the United States, the United Kingdom, and several European Union countries. The winery cultivates vineyards across 11 hectares of land and employs 5 permanent staff members, including 15 seasonal workers.
Minister Songulashvili emphasised the critical role of accessible financial resources in promoting Georgian production. He noted that small wineries established through state-supported programs, along with accompanying hospitality infrastructure, play a significant role in boosting both local production and tourism, thereby contributing to the growth of Georgia’s economy.
The Rural Development Agency has been implementing the Preferential Agrocredit Program for over a decade. The program aims to provide affordable, long-term financing for farmers and agribusinesses, helping them improve primary agricultural production, processing, storage, and sales.
Notably, from 2013 to February 28, 2025, banks have issued approximately 1,500 loans worth over GEL 500 million to more than 900 unique beneficiaries under the Preferential Agrocredit Program. The agency's co-financing contributions have exceeded GEL 120 million.