On September 15, 2019, Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) beneficiaries participated in the Cultural Heritage Forum held in the city of Tetritskaro. The main purpose of the event was to engage the society and business sector in the protection and patronage of the cultural heritage sites of Georgia. Within the forum, the exhibitions of ethnographic materials, traditional crafts, paintings, mosaics and other kinds of pieces of arts were held.

The EU-funded rural development projects implemented by RDFG have also presented their products:

• Alexander Distillery – Qvevri-made whiskey, wine, Chacha, and Sharbat
• Tsintskaro+ – Cheese and other kinds of dairy products
• Cooperative Stone Spring – Honey
• Etno – Calvados
• Raspberry Production

The event was opened by Salome Zurabishvili, the president of Georgia who highlighted the importance of the preservation of the cultural heritage sites in Georgia. Afterwards, she toured the place where among other exhibitions, she has also got acquainted with the RDFG beneficiaries’ products. The president was especially interested in Alexander Distillery’s production process which uses a unique method for producing the Qvevri-made whiskey.

The Cultural Heritage Forum was held in Georgia for the first time. As planned, this kind of events will be held in different regions of Georgia in the future and will become a national tradition. This year the forum was organized by the National Agency of Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, Kvemo Kartli Administration of State Representative, Tetritskaro Municipality City Hall, Kvemo Kartli Municipality Self-Governments, public union – Sakdrisi Committee and Rich Metals Group (RMG).

The Cultural Heritage forum was attended by Shota Rekhviashvili, State Representative in Kvemo Kartli region, Nikoloz Antidze, the Head of the Agency for Cultural Heritage Preservation of Georgia, Goderdzi Chankseliani, Tetritskaro Majority MP, Giorgi Koridze, Tetritskaro Municipality Mayor, etc.

The EU-funded project “Rural Development for Sustainable Growth in the Tetritskaro Municipality” is implemented by EU partner organisation, RDFG. The project aims to improve the quality of life in the Tetritskaro municipality through the introduction of innovative social-economic models and engagement of local private and public sectors in the decision making. RDFG is partnering with the Agro-Technology Association and the Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network to carry out the action.

Contact:
Nelly Revazishvili, RDFG Rural Development Project Manager – nrevazishvili@rdfg.ge
Nina Kopaleishvili, RDFG Communications Officer – nkopaleishvili@rdfg.ge