US Charge Kent Logsdon Launches US Government Supported Programs in Shida Kartli

February 12, 2009

On the ceremony of animal feed distribution in Ortasheni.

On February 12, US Chargé d’Affairs to Georgia Kent Logdson attended the launch of US Government-funded projects in Shida Kartli, the region of Georgia most impacted during last August.  The overall goal of USG support is to facilitate Georgia’s economic recovery through USAID in partnership with the Georgian Government and other international donor organizations. 

Chargé Logsdon said at the ceremony of animal feed distribution through the Winter Livestock Maintenance Program in the village of Ortasheni near Gori:  “I realize that much work remains to recover from the impact of last August. That is why we will continue to work with the Government of Georgia, the UN, nongovernmental organizations, Georgian business and citizens who are all striving to help those in need.” This program is part of the US Government’s assistance to Georgia implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the Untied Nations.  16,000 farm families affected by the August conflict will receive 4,000 tons of animal feed.    

Chargé Kent Logsdon attended the presentation of USAID’s Small and Medium Enterprise Support project at the Gori State University Business Faculty.  This project in partnership with the Ministry of Education and Science of Georgia has made major progress in introducing to Georgia the new higher professional education model developed in line with U.S. community colleges’ best practices.  Higher professional education is new to the Georgian education system.

At the end of the regional visit, the Chargé launched the Gori Business Incubator - USAID’s Small and Medium Enterprises Support Project   established in partnership with the Georgian Association Women in Business.   The Gori Business Incubator is designed to provide quality and demand-driven vocational training courses to internally displaced women free of charge. 

The Governor of Shida Kartli Lado Vardzelashvili, together with other local officials, NGO and local community representatives attended the events and expressed their sincere appreciation to the Government and people of the U.S.  The visit received wide coverage in the national media.