President of Georgia Mikheil Saakashvili met local peasants in village Napareuli. President got interested in the vintage preparation process and the problems existing in the village. He spoke to the peasants about the assistance plans of the government regarding vine growing and listened to the peasants about existing problems. As he said there is certain money put into the budget to help the peasants and the parliament is already working on this issue.
"There are pretty educated people here, our people are wise they know what happens in the world but they need advice from the specialists, one can cultivate vineyards very well but they are not able to have any basics in world marketing. The state must help them in it by all means.
Next year roads will give us additional 30% effect. If we envisage the fact that we are entering new markets, next year already we will be able to sell much more grapes within the country and on the other hand we will be able to sell as much wine as we did on the Russian markets before embargo, but this will be of higher quality. This will be possible if we all participate in the world competition", stated President.
Mikheil Saakashvili explained that the state starts the stimulation program of the bank this summer, which will give the banking sector a chance to give out credits without restrictions.
"I think that crediting will start this summer. Banks have money today in Georgia, there exist certain resources but because people listened to the information on TV about explosions, blockings - 150 million was taken out of the banks because many people were frightened - this money is back now and I expect that from September on the process of issuing credits. Agriculture won't be able to develop without credits", stated President of Georgia.
The peasants spoke to the President about the lack of techniques and about high prices of chemicals.
Mikheil Saakashvili tasked the Minister of Agriculture Bakur Kvezereli to arrange these problems. He promised the local population to provide natural gas to their villages.
In order to get through the vintage period successfully and help the wine sector, 2009 state budget envisages the project of changes - 24.7 million GEL will be issued for it.
Napareuli population received many promises from President - natural gas, tractors and chemicals for the vineyards. They even asked President to build a fountain there. After several hours meeting with President the local population got Presindet's word about the development of the infrastructure as for the Minister of Agriculture he got a lot of tasks.
Press Office
of the President of Georgia