Sectoral meetings were held last week at the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia on beekeeping and fruit growing and market gardening, in the framework of the EU4Business project 'Georgia on European Way: Creation of Effective Model for DCFTA and SME Strategy Implementation'.
The first section of the meeting was dedicated to challenges in the beekeeping sector. During the second part, identified problems in the field of fruit growing and market gardening were discussed.
Representatives of SMEs and CSOs from different regions of Georgia attended the meetings and participated in discussion. Ministry representatives included heads of relevant departments, field experts, scientists and representatives of the Agricultural Projects Management Agency APMA.
Members of the project together with partner SMEs and CSOs, presented their recommendations related to food safety, inspection, infrastructure, state programmes, cooperatives, and research related to existing problems in the areas of beekeeping and fruit growing/market gardening.
The ministry representatives presented updates relevant to the recommendations. They also expressed their support to the project and further cooperation.
'Georgia on European Way: Creation of Effective Model for DCFTA and SME Strategy Implementation' is funded by the European Union in the framework of the EU4Business initiative. The project seeks to strengthen the capacities of Georgian Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and Business Support Organisations (BSOs) in supporting the implementation of the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) with the EU, as well as the SME strategy for Georgia, through capacity building, awareness raising and the creation of advisory councils bringing together representatives of local and central government, SMEs, CSOs, BSOs and international experts.