On 2 March, the President of the European Investment Bank (EIB), Werner Hoyer, visited the Scientific-Research Center of Agriculture of the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture in Jighaura. Since 2019, this scientific center has been one of the beneficiaries of a €5.2 million EU project, implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO).
President Hoyer visited live grape collections, met with local farmers and businesses benefitting from EU support, and examined new screenhouses constructed under the project, which will help preserve the genetic purity of grape varieties unique to Georgia.
All activities are part of EU support to certification of the grape seedling sector in Georgia, which will help increase farm yields, develop the seedling industry and open the door for Georgian exports to the EU. This project is one of over 200 different EU–funded projects supporting Georgia’s development.
“I’m really impressed by Georgian agriculture and by the creativity of the people here who are successful in Georgian, but also in European markets,” said Hoyer. “The European Union and its bank, EIB, were very supportive of the sector when it comes to the overall picture, but also when it comes to individual SME financing via our partner banks here in Georgia.”
On 1 March, the EIB President also signed an agreement with Liberty Bank to expand an existing credit line for Georgian micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) via an additional €2.5 million, as part of a total package of €17.5 million.
Source: EU Neighbors
