Our goal is for future projects to deliver even greater economic benefit to the country and improve the well-being of our population” — Davit Songulashvili
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Davit Songulashvili, visited the Racha region today.
“We met with local entrepreneurs and our agencies’ staff. Direct communication is the best way to understand the needs of the local people. That information forms the basis of future projects, which must bring even greater economic benefit to the country and improve the well-being of our population,” said Davit Songulashvili.
The Minister noted that the effective implementation of state policy depends on the smooth functioning of his ministry’s regional services.
“For result-oriented work, it is very important to have appropriate infrastructure, proper equipment, and motivated, professional staff. Active work is underway for this, and I believe that in the near future we will have fully-equipped, high-standard infrastructure facilities across the country, where professional personnel will provide high-quality services to regional residents,” Mr. Songulashvili said.
In Racha he met small and medium entrepreneurs, visited the “Bimbili” winery, the “Itsi Marani” LLC, and the cooperative “Racha’s Natural Products Honey Production Collective”.
“Racha is preparing for the start of the harvest. On site we reviewed the preparations and learned about the needs of the vine-growers. It is important to think about how to better use Racha’s agricultural potential. For strengthening the region in this direction, within our ministry’s competence, we will do whatever is possible in a consistent manner,” added the Minister.
Minister Songulashvili also held meetings with the regional office of the National Food Agency, which conducts state control over food safety, veterinary medicine and plant protection in all four municipalities (Ambrolauri, Oni, Tsageri, Lentechi); he visited the newly opened regional office of the National Forestry Agency and met its staff. The Services of the Agency cover about 250 rural settlements in the region.
He inspected the renovation work at the Western Regional Department of the Environmental Supervision Department. He visited the temporary administrative building of the protected areas, met rangers and viewed equipment purchased for the Racha National Park.
“I want to note that with the expansion of protected areas, new opportunities arise for Racha. It gives the region additional attractiveness and thus can further develop in tourism,” said the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture.
At the “Askrioni” guesthouse — which is a beneficiary of the rural business support programme in a high-mountain settlement — the Minister was present. Accompanying him were the State Representative of Racha-Lechkhumi & Kvemo Svaneti, Papuna Margvelidze; the region’s parliamentary delegate Gotcha Enukidze; the First Deputy Minister Nino Tandilashvili; heads of agencies within the ministry’s system; and local self-government representatives.
