The Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Yuri Nozadze held several important meetings during an official visit to the United States. The meetings touched upon the issues of deepening cooperation between Georgia and the USA in the field of environmental protection as well.
During his visit he also held meetings with the Deputy Secretary of the US Department of the Interior, the Director of the US Department International Technical Assistance Program (DOI-ITAP) as well as representatives of the Embassy of Georgia in the United States of America.
Yuri Nozadze stated that The support of the United States of America towards the development of Georgian Protected Areas which is carried out through the USAID) is crucial for many years.
Within the framework of this cooperation the foundation was laid for a number of projects and initiatives that have the fundamental importance both in terms of conservation of unique biodiversity as well as the development of ecotourism and institutional strengthening of the system of protected areas.
It is to be added that during the meeting with the US Department of the Interior (DOI), Georgian FM said that “National Parks and Ecotourism Development Program” which promotes the improvement of the management of Georgian national parks and protected areas and the development of ecotourism is greatly contributing.
He also added that the technical assistance provided by the program plays an important role in recreational tourism and, in general in the country’s economic development. Within the program’s framework, qualification courses are being carried out to institutionally strengthen protected area agencies and territorial administrations.
At the meetings Yuri Nozadze thanked the US for years of support. He emphasised the importance of the “Letter of Intent” signed between the US Interior Department and 3 leading ministries of Georgia. The document aims at the future cooperation between the two countries. The agreement unites three major ministries of Georgia as well. Theae inclused the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, department of Cultural Heritage and Monuments under the Ministry of Culture and National Tourism Administration under the Ministry of Economy, which areresponsible for developing tourism in the country.
