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Khatia Tsilosani met with the European Commission representatives Matthew Bousquet and Michaela Hauf
At the meeting, the participants discussed key components of the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD) IV phase. The participants summed up the results achieved under the project and brought forward new opportunities for improving agricultural development and living conditions in rural areas. The Deputy Minister provided participants with the agricultural and rural development strategies implementation process and noted that, in the ENPARD IV phase, the main focus will be set on the environmental aspects and sustainable development of agriculture.
The sides stressed that, in the strategy development process the Ministry actively cooperates with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and takes recommendations to improve the quality of life and well-being of rural residents.
"Food safety will be an important component of the ENPARD IV phase. In cooperation with the National Food Agency and Ministry of Agriculture laboratory, the international standard for a quality management system (“QMS”) ISO 9001 will be introduced in the country, which will have a positive impact on a country's performance, as a result of which, local population will be more protected and reliability of Georgian products in export markets will be increased "said Khatia Tsilosani.
As was mentioned, the ENPARD IV stage should be based on a new strategy for agriculture and rural development. The initial version of the strategy will be completed by the end of the year.
It should be noted, that the European Union supports agriculture and rural development through the implementation of ENPARD program in Georgia. The program is implemented since 2013 and its total budget amounts to 179.5 million euros (2013-2022). The main objective of ENPARD is to overcome poverty in rural areas of Georgia considering principles of sustainable development of agriculture.
Vincent Rey, Head of Cooperation of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, Zurab Chekurashvili, Head of the National Food Agency and representatives of other departments within the Ministry attended the meeting.
The initiative of the Ministry referring the assistance of the private sector and implementation of state policy in the fields of food safety, strengthening the capacity of the Ministry and financing certain initiatives in the fields of livestock breeding have been supported by the representatives of the European Commission.
It was noted, that indicators that will be prepared to receive budgetary assistance will be in compliance with the obligations taken by the Government of Georgia.