Vintage Preparatory Meeting With Entrepreneurs
Minister of Agriculture of Georgia Levan Davitashvili and Head of National Wine Agency, Giorgi Samanishvili met with the representatives of wine and alcoholic beverage companies regarding the organizational issues of vintage 2017.
The Minister noted that both the government and the private sector are perfectly ready to carry out the vintage properly.
“We have all the preconditions for successful vintage. Grape harvest is quite large, and at the same time wine export has increased. Vintage-related issues are organized - The Government has approved vintage supportive measures. At today's meeting we talked with companies about the details and procedures that are prescribed by the government's decree. The meeting was very important and productive, we received information from the companies about actual issues related to vintage. We believe that we will be able to successfully and effectively conduct the vintage season with the maximum coordination and organization”- stated Levan Davitashvili.
According to Giorgi Samanishvili, Chairman of National Wine Agency, the growing export of wine is one of the prerequisites for successful vintage.
“Private sector is ready and well aware of this year's system, on the bases of which vintage -2017 is going to be held. The wine companies have understood that there is no need for massive subsidies on the grape this year, as export has grown and accordingly demand is increasing. In general, the winemaking sector is ready to process grapes completely. We are expecting great harvest this year, according to our prediction, about 140-150 thousand tons of grapes will be industrialized " - stated Giorgi Samanishvili.
As mentioned at the meeting, taking into consideration the current situation of the wine industry, there is no need to issue a subsidy on quality, conditioned grapes in Kakheti region in 2017 and according to the decree, it will no longer be issued.
According to the decision of the government, wine companies that purchase 1 kg of grapes of Rkatsiteli and Kakhuri Mtsvane for at least 70 tetri, will receive 35 tetri compensation from the state for brandy spirits and concentrated grapes production. Due to the special significance - preserved appellations - the subsidy will be retained for the 2017 vintage season in the Racha-Lechkhumi region for Khvanchkara varieties - Aleqsandrouli and Mujuretuli - 1 kg - 2 GEL.
Like the previous years, coordination staff will be created by the representatives of LEPL National Wine Agency, the Ministry of Agriculture, Economy and Sustainable Development and Internal Affairs, NAPR Agricultural Project Management Agency and the representatives of the state - governors (Kakheti, Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti regions). The headquarter will be located in Telavi. As it was revealed at the meeting, this decision is fully supported by the private sector.
Special space will be set up for self-governing cities for grape purchase, with the purpose of promoting production, wine and alcoholic beverage companies will continue to take loans under the frame of preferential agro credit projects.
About 50 representatives of wine companies attended the meeting in the extended format. The Minister of Agriculture and the Chairman of the National Wine Agency answered the questions of the representatives of the companies.