AgVANTAGE Project a success story

December 2, 2009

Charge d'Affaires Kent Logsdon and Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli

Charge d'Affaires  Kent Logsdon and Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli marked  the completion of USAID's AgVANTAGE project and celebrated its many achievements during a ceremony on December 2.   Over the past six years, the $23 millon AgVANTAGE  program  has helped strengthen the capacity of Georgia's agriculture sector and enabled Georgian producers, processors and vendors to better compete in local and international markets.  Among the chief achievements of the project were gains within the viniculture market, realized through the exploration and promotion of Georgia's wine export potential and its associated opportunities for wine tourism.  As a result, the U.S. is now a leading export market for Georgian wines with over $2 million in sales over the last 3 years.  Processing and distribution methods for hazelnuts and other fruits and vegetables also improved with assistance from AgVANTAGE.  In total, the U.S. Government program helped to create 1,880 permanent jobs, provided 63 grants to agricultural enterprises, supported 120 firms and directly assisted 37,000 individuals and helped to generate over $37 million in foreign and domestic sales.