David Songulashvili and Turkey's Minister of Agriculture and Forestry sign a Memorandum of Cooperation on Irrigation Infrastructure and Forestry Management.

The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr David Songulashvili, is paying a working visit to the Republic of Türkiye. As part of the visit, Minister Songulashvili met with the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, Mr Ibrahim Yumaklı.

During the meeting, the parties signed Memoranda of Cooperation in the development of irrigation infrastructure and forestry management between Georgia and Türkiye.

Under the Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Irrigation and Drainage Management and Irrigation Infrastructure, the parties will collaborate by exchanging knowledge, expertise, and technologies to improve irrigation infrastructure and enhance the delivery of irrigation and drainage services.

The Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in the Forestry Sector is intended to deepen bilateral cooperation in the forestry sector. The two countries will work together in areas including sustainable forest management practices, nursery and seedling production technologies, biodiversity conservation, protected area management, combating desertification and erosion, inventory of non-wood forest products, ecotourism, and forest cadastre development.

“Cooperation between our two countries is gradually increasing. The Memoranda signed today with the Turkish side are particularly significant. Türkiye possesses valuable experience in these fields, and the sharing of this expertise is of great importance to us,” said Mr David Songulashvili.

According to Mr Ibrahim Yumaklı, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye, cooperation between the two countries is expanding steadily.

“We are further strengthening our cooperation in crop production, pest management, irrigation, and related areas. Today, we signed two Memoranda of Understanding. One focuses on technical cooperation in water resources, irrigation, and drainage, while the other aims to enhance our collaboration in the forestry sector. I hope that both agreements will deliver tangible results and contribute to the success of our joint efforts. I would also like to once again thank Minister Songulashvili for participating in our forum and high-level ministerial meeting,” said Mr Ibrahim Yumaklı.

As part of his visit to the Republic of Türkiye, Minister David Songulashvili will attend the High-level Ministerial Dialogue to Support Post-Harvest Losses Reduction and Agro-Processing (PHAP)and Increase Efficiency Across the Food Supply Chain.