COVID-19 and Ongoing Projects in Regions of Georgia
As part of the EU-funded Agriculture and Rural Development Project, the state language online course is underway in Akhalkalaki, ENPARD project manager Nana Kashakashvili told Business Partner.
As part of the EU Rural Development Program, 12 projects are being implemented in regions of Georgia. Amid the pandemic these projects are being managed in digital format, Kashakashvili noted and added that the mentioned projects in all regions are facing the same challenges, however, in Akhalkalaki, which is predominantly settled by ethnic minorities, the language barrier and social integration expose additional difficulties in terms of the project implementation. Therefore, the local development group launched the state language course in Akhalkalaki and the process is managed in digital format amid the pandemic, the ENPARD project manager pointed out.
“This project calls for developing village, but this format does not imply only the agriculture sector development. This project covers various directions: tourism, environment protection, social aspects, maximal engagement of women and youth. Analogical project is being implemented in 12 municipalities and similar challenges exist in terms of rural development, but in Akhalkalaki we also have language barriers and social integration problems. These are two important components that the Local Action Group (LAG) has resolved, including the group established a training center for teaching the state language and fosters a maximal engagement of young people and women. When COVID-10 broke out, the project-determined activities were restricted and we moved into online space. The training center resumed the online Georgian language lessons and we offer the online state language courses to local residents. This is a very successful program. We teach about 30 students and this is a big novelty for Akhalkalaki residents”, Kashakashvili noted.
Despite the difficulties generated by COVID-19, Georgia continues registering farmers on the International Trade Platform established as part of the EU-funded Black Sea Basin Program. Projects launched as part of the EU Neighborhood Program make focus on development of villages and agrarian industry, in general, Kashakashvili noted and added that the registration of farmers on the united trade online platform of these three countries was partly obstructed.
This platform is a pilot project that aims to expand trade potential between Georgia, Bulgaria and Romania. Each of these three participant countries should register at least 50 small or major farmers (on the whole, 150 farmers will pass registration), who will use the online trade platform for sales of their own products or services.
However, as noted by Kashakashvili, the pandemic has obstructed the registration process in Romania and Bulgaria, where the situation worsened essentially. Therefore, Georgia that has better withstood the pandemic, assumed the project leadership and continues the farmers registration process.
“Key objective is to boost trade opportunities between these three countries in terms of exports and imports supply. These countries are Georgia, Bulgaria and Romania. We know how complicated situation is in Bulgaria and Romania, while Georgia has a very good positioning in terms of fighting COVID-19. Consequently, our partners are in heavy situation and Georgia has assumed the project implementation leadership and we actively continue online registration of farmers on the agrodeals.net platform, which is to boost trade opportunities between these countries”, Kashakashvili noted.
The pandemic has persuaded ethnic minorities in Georgia that it is necessary and reasonable to know the state language, she noted.
"Amid this pandemic, only positive thing for Akhalkalaki residents is that they have realized the necessity and importance of social integration and knowledge of the state language to easier receive information and engage in the integration process”, Nana Kashakashvili told Business Partner.