Georgia: Agriculture Minister Otar Shamugia meets French Ambassador Sheraz Gasri

Tbilisi: Minister of Environment and Agriculture Otar Shamugia met with the Ambassador of the Republic of France in Georgia Sheraz Gasri. At the meeting the parties discussed ongoing joint projects, prospects for future cooperation, including investment opportunities.

 Otar Shamugia thanked the French government for many years of close friendly and partnership and stressed the importance of supporting France and sharing experience in Georgia’s European integration process.

 At the meeting, the Minister spoke about state programs for environmental protection and agriculture development and stressed the importance of environment favorable for implementation of investments based on a liberal tax system in the country.

 “You will remember that Georgia has a European perspective. Our goal is to achieve the status of an EU candidate country, in which we have great hope of the support of our friendly countries and, of course, France. We have effective cooperation with France, for which I would like to express my special gratitude. I hope future plans will be even more active and fruitful,” Otar Shamugia said.

“As you know, EU is a unity of values and principle. I would like to congratulate you on the European perspective. Our goal is to help Georgia to achieve EU candidate status. We also think that Georgia should be less dependent on imports and should establish itself in the European Union market with locally produced products. 

I welcome the ongoing projects between our countries and note that cooperation will further deepen,” Sheraz Gasri said.

 At the meeting, the discussion touched on the development of drinking infrastructure and population, as well as deepening cooperation on wine certification and water resource management.

 The meeting held at the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture was attended by Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili, representatives of the Ministry’s relevant service, as well as the Head of the French Development Agency Rafael Jozan and Head of the Embassy’s Economy Service Francois Henri Cloarek.