1 October 2019, Adjara – Over 50 representatives of public, private and civil society sectors gathered in Batumi, Adjara to discuss Economic Development Plans for Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities. The document was prepared with EU support under “Mayors for Economic Growth” project, with the assistance from ENPARD’s ongoing rural development projects in Keda and Khulo and active involvement of Local Action Groups (LAGs).

The aim of the Economic Development Plans are to realize common interests, coordinate economic development sites between participating municipalities and initiate joint action concerning local economic development.

Ketevan Khutsishvili, the Programme Manager for Rural Development, Civil Protection, and Delegation of the European Union to Georgia, attended the event and talked about EU support for the Rural Development of Georgia. Within the meeting, Peter R. Korsby, the Project Team Leader for Mayors for Economic Growth, emphasized that the overall goal of M4EG is to support the mayors and municipalities of Eastern Partnership countries to become active facilitators of economic growth and job creation at the local level.

Representatives of the Ministries of Finance and Economy of Adjara Autonomous Republic, the Department of Tourism and Resorts, the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, EU-supported projects “Mayors for Economic Growth”, “Supporting Rural Development and Diversification in Khulo Municipality” and “Keda Leader”, as well as EU-supported Keda and Khulo LAGs took an active part in the event.

During the meeting, the participants discussed the following important issues: methods to prepare a local economic plan, local economy review and SWOT analysis, vision for the local economic development plan, goals and activities. Discussions were held within the framework of the meeting. Khulo was represented by Aslan Artmeladze who spoke about the introduction of plan.

At the end of the event, representatives from Keda, Shuakhevi and Khulo municipalities participating in the project “Mayors for Economic Growth” were awarded certificates.

Caritas Czech Republic in Georgian in frame of project ‘’promotion of rural development and diversification in Khulo Municipality’’ supported creation of joint local development plan

The EU is supporting agriculture and rural development in Georgia through its ENPARD Programme. Implemented since 2013 with a total budget of EUR 179.5 million, the main goal of ENPARD is to reduce rural poverty in Georgia. The first phase of ENPARD in Georgia focused on developing the potential of agriculture. The second and third phases of ENPARD focus on creating economic opportunities for rural population that go beyond agricultural activities. More information on ENPARD is available at: www.enpard.ge