Memorandum signed with USAID/REAP
The Memorandum for Cooperation in the Field of Technical Assistance was executed by and between the Agriculture Projects Management Agency and the Georgias Project for Restoring Efficiency to Agriculture Production of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
The Memorandum provides for implementation of the food safety management systems and international standards (HACCP and ISO22000: 2005) in the beneficiary enterprises engaged in the agricultural processing and storing enterprises project as well as organization of consulting trainings for the enterprises.
The Memorandum was signed by Mrs. Mariana Morgoshia, the Director of the Agricultural Projects Management Agency and Mr. Louis Faoro, the USAID/REAP Executive Director.
The agreement aims to strengthen the potential of the processing industry and support the growth of production efficiency. It should be noted that companies not only receive financial aid for their industrial infrastructure, but they also enjoy the additional technical support, including the implementation of international standards on food safety, which will facilitate the further increase of export potential of Georgian products and gaining new markets.
The USAID/REAP undertakes to fund 50% of the value of services in terms of implementation, certification and consultation for the food safety management international systems and standards, as well as to ensure the involvement of enterprises in the relevant training programs and to fund 100% of the trainings specially organized for such enterprises.
In its turn, the Agriculture Projects Management Agency shall pay for 30% of certification services for international systems and standards as well as introduce the USAID/REAP to the enterprises wishing to receive the services in terms of implementation and certification of the management standards and systems (HACCP and ISO22000: 2005); the Agriculture Project Management Agency will mobilize the personnel selected for participation in the training and facilitate the successful implementation of training.
The Agriculture Project Management Agency has been implementing the co-funding project for agricultural products processing and storage enterprises since 2014. Within the scopes of the mentioned there were funded 11 new enterprises. The Government already issued the grant in the amount of $ 3 172 198, also it co-funded 11% - annual interest costs of a total value of $ 3 666 582 the preferential agro-credits taken by the beneficiary companies.
The Agriculture Project Management Agency has been implementing the large-scale projects since 2013; the projects are focused on long-term development and aim at creation the environment that fosters to increase the competitiveness in agriculture, steady growth of high-quality production and ensuring the food safety and food security issues.