On January 15, 2016 the Government of Georgia approved tea plantations rehabilitation program Georgian Tea initiated by the Ministry of Agriculture. Today, Deputy Director of the Agricultural Project Management Agency Mamuka Kvaratskhelia and manager of the program Georgian Tea Levan Urotadze presented the program Georgian Tea to Guria governor Gia Salukvadze, local government representatives, local cooperatives and farmers with On the recommendation of the Ministry of Agriculture, the Agricultural Project Management Agency started implementation of the first phase of the program in February with the aim of effective use of the tea plantation potential of Georgia, promotion of the growth of production of the local tea (including bio tea), and as a result, raising self-sufficiency and export potential. Also important is that in the framework of the program it will be possible to rehabilitate abandoned private and state-owned tea plantations. The funding for tea plantation rehabilitation will be provided to legal entities, including agricultural cooperatives. The co-financing for the rehabilitation of plantations will cover: In case of privately-owned plantations:for legal entities (other than agricultural cooperatives) 60% of the rehabilitation cost; for agricultural cooperatives - 80% of the rehabilitation cost. In case of state-owned (leased) plantations: for legal entities (other than agricultural cooperatives) - 70% of the rehabilitation cost; for agricultural cooperatives - 90% of the rehabilitation cost. Agricultural cooperatives will receive additionally free of charge the industrial machinery, equipment and inventory for primary tea primary processing. The Tea Plantations Rehabilitation Program includes several phases. In the frames of the Program the Agricultural Project Management Agency together with donors, will provide technical assistance to program beneficiaries in the study of the advanced tea processing technology, certification, marketing, sales channels and other. Special discounts within the Program are provided for agricultural cooperatives, that will further contribute to the development of farming cooperation in Georgia. Since 2013, the Agricultural Project Management Agency has been implementing large-scale projects designed for the long-term development and its goal is to foster an environment that will help to increase competitiveness in agriculture, ensure the steady growth of high-quality production, promote food safety and food security issues.