The EU Launches New Development Projects in Mestia Municipality

On June 22, Mestia Municipality will host an official opening ceremony of two projects supporting local development in Zemo Svaneti.

The event is organized by the European Union delegation in Georgia, the Embassy of Sweden in Tbilisi, the Austrian Development and Cooperation Agency (ADA), Mestia Municipality City Hall, CARA Austria and the Policy Management Group Research Center (PMC-RC).

The aim of the event is to inform the government, donors, ENPARD partners, the general public and all interested parties about the goals, tasks, attitudes and activities of new projects supporting local development.

The invited guests will have the opportunity to get information about local development opportunities and perspectives of Mestia municipality and mountainous areas in general.

Project - GRETA is a four-year project to support mountain tourism and organic agriculture development, aiming to develop small and medium enterprises in these sectors. The project will also facilitate the development of the appropriate business environment and income generating capabilities. The project includes three regions of Georgia Zemo Svaneti, Racha and Upper Imereti;

Its total value is € 6.8 million and is financed by the EU and EU Member States - Austria and Sweden.

"CARE Austria", along with its partner PMC-RC, will implement a four-year project supporting the development of villages of Mestia Municipality. The project is part of the EU Rural Development and Rural Development Neighborhood Program (ENPARD) in Georgia.

The ENPARD program is being implemented in Georgia since 2013 and its main goal is to eradicate poverty in rural areas. ENPARD III Mestia's specific goal is to support the social-economic development of vulnerable populations in the mountainous areas using the EU "LEADER" approach. Its total value is € 2.5 million and is financed by the EU and the Austrian Government.