On 15 May 2017, in Tbilisi, Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) held an introductory workshop of a new project “Rural Development for Sustainable Growth of Tetritskaro Municipality.” The project is implemented with the support of European Union (EU) through the European Neighbourhood Programme for Agriculture and Rural Development (ENPARD).

The workshop aimed to introduce the project to implementing partners and stakeholders and to define the plans of future cooperation. Representatives of the Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia and ENPARD partner organisations attended the event. RDFG’s European partner Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network (VVGT) and the Ministry of Agriculture of Lithuania participated in the event as well.

Ekaterine Zviadadze, Head of the Policy and Analysis Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia introduced Rural Development Strategy of Georgia 2017-2020 and Action Plan for 2017. Also, Nunu Mosiashvili, Programme Manager at the EU Delegation to Georgia presented on the goals, objectives and projects of the ENPARD program in the country. Furthermore, Jolanta Vaičiūnienė, Head of Rural Development Department of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Lithuania spoke about the LEADER approach in Lithuania and shared the experience of the country in this field.

At the end of the introductory workshop Vano Grigolashvili, Chairman of the Association Rural Development for Future Georgia (RDFG) spoke about innovative approaches to be implemented throughout the project in Tetritskaro.

“Rural Development for Sustainable Growth in the Tetritskaro Municipality” is a four-year project funded by EU under the ENPARD programme and implemented by RDFG. RDFG is partnering with the Agro-Technology Association and the Lithuanian Local Action Groups Network to carry out the action.

Implemented since 2013 the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. For more information please visit: www.enpard.ge.