Georgia:Â Representatives of government agencies and the business sector discussed the challenges, prospects, and improving access to financial resources in agriculture at a joint meeting.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Georgia Nino Tsilosani, Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture Tengiz Nasaridze, Chairman of the Parliament’s Committee on Agrarian Affairs Gela Samkharauli, and Acting Director of USAID Economic Growth Office Eni Stidi.
The Deputy Minister of Environment and Agriculture has paid attention to the projects implemented by the state with the EU, international donor organizations and foundations and noted that access to finance in agriculture is increasing year after year.
“For more than ten years, we have been implementing various supporting programs, within the framework of which the total investment in the field of agriculture exceeded 7.64 billion Gel, from which state co-financing is almost 2.04 billion Gel.” With the support of state policy, the export of agro-food products is increasing every year. In 2023, a record amount of agro-food products worth up to 1.44 billion US dollars have been exported from Georgia to 106 countries around the world, which is 15% higher than in 2022, and in the last 12 years, we have a growth rate of 181%”, said Tengiz Nasaridze.
At the meeting, the results of the thematic survey “Access to Finance in Agrarian Sector” carried out by the Committee of Agrarian Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia were discussed. This document was created with financial support from USAID’s Innovation Program.
“Although we have had impressive dynamics in the agriculture portfolio since 2013 in terms of subsidizing government programs and credits, private businesses’ credit to the agricultural sector is still deficient.” Our thematic research has shown us some of the challenges faced by the banking sector. “Recommendations were made for government agencies and business sector representatives,” Nino Tsilosan noted.
Acting Director of the USAID Office for Economic Growth Annie Steid emphasized the US government’s continued support office and noted that for 30 years, the US has been supporting Georgia’s sustainable economic development.
The meeting was organized by the Committee of Agrarian Affairs of the Parliament of Georgia and attended by representatives of the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture, the Committee for Agrarian Issues of Georgia, USAID, the Farmers Association of Georgia, the Agency for Rural Development, Banks, and Microfinance Organizations.
