On January 15, 2016 Government of Georgia approved the program for the rehabilitation of tea plantations based on the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture of GeorgiaToday, Levan Urotadze manager of Georgian Tea of project management and promotion of Agricultural Projects Management Agency introduced the program Georgian Tea to Paata Nadiradze deputy governor of Imereti, representatives of local municipal bodies, local cooperatives and farmers. Agricultural Projects Management Agency started to implement the first stage of the program in February under the initiative of the Ministry of Agriculture of Georgia. The purpose for the mentioned rehabilitation is to use the potential of tea plantations existing in Georgia effectively, promote local tea (including bio tea) production, raise the level of self-reliance and increase the potential for export. It is important that the mentioned program will make it possible to rehabilitate abandoned tea plantations being in private or state ownership. Legal entities, including agricultural cooperatives, will receive funding for the rehabilitation of tea plantations.Co-financing for the rehabilitation of plantations will be as follows: In case of privately owned plantations: for legal entities (except agr. cooperatives) - 60% of rehabilitation costs For agricultural cooperatives 80% of rehabilitation costsIn case of state-owned (leased) plantations: For legal entities (except agricultural cooperatives) 70% of rehabilitation costs For agricultural cooperatives 90% of rehabilitation costsIn addition agricultural cooperatives will receive industrial machinery, equipment and inventory for the initial procession of tea free of charge. Within a multi stage program for the rehabilitation of tea plantations Agricultural Projects Management Agency, together with donor organizations, will render technical assistance to the program beneficiaries in the direction of studying proper tea processing technology, certification, creation of realization and marketing means and so on.Special exemptions are envisaged for agricultural cooperatives that will promote the development of cooperation in Georgia.Agricultural Projects Management Agency has been implementing large-scale projects since 2013, that are designed for long-term development and is purposed to create the environment that will promote the rise of competitiveness in agriculture, stable increase in the production of high quality products and introduction of International food safety standards.