Davit Songulashvili Meets French Wine and Livestock Industry Leaders to Deepen Agricultural Cooperation
Davit Songulashvili, Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, met with representatives of France’s leading wine and livestock companies.
The meeting focused on strengthening the strategic partnership between the two countries in the field of agriculture and identifying new areas of cooperation. Special attention was given to opportunities for sharing expertise and implementing joint projects in the wine and livestock sectors. The importance of introducing modern technologies, improving production standards, and promoting Georgian agro-products for export was also emphasized.
“Georgian wine stands out for its unique taste qualities and continues to attract international attention. The active interest of French winemakers and distributors is a strong incentive for Georgian entrepreneurs and further boosts the export of Georgian wine to the French market. As for livestock – among the attendees were organizers of one of Europe’s largest livestock exhibitions, who expressed interest in Georgia’s livestock sector. This is particularly significant for us, as supporting the development of this sector is a national priority,” said Minister Songulashvili.
The discussion highlighted the importance of experience sharing as well as the implementation of investment and educational projects aimed at modernizing Georgia’s agricultural sector and strengthening its integration with European markets.
Among the participants was Pierre Desprat, CEO of the renowned French wine company Desprat Saint Verny, along with company representatives. Founded in 1885, Desprat Saint Verny is currently the fourth-largest wine producer and distributor in France.
“I’ve always dreamed of visiting Georgia and discovering the authentic taste of Georgian wine. This visit has three main goals: to explore the unique qvevri winemaking technology and try making wine in a qvevri myself; to introduce Georgian wine to the French public, which I believe is still not well known despite being truly distinctive and profound; and finally, to personally contribute to the development of Georgian winemaking,” said Pierre Desprat.
On the livestock side, the meeting included Jacques Chazalet, President of the Livestock Summit, one of Europe’s most prominent and respected professional agricultural fairs, and Bruno Duffayet, CEO of Race Salers Viande. The Livestock Summit draws around 11 million visitors annually.
“Georgia was the guest of honor at the 2023 Livestock Summit in France – one of the most important events in the field. The summit brings together professionals from livestock, agrotechnics, and education, offering a platform for sharing knowledge and practices. We’re eager to expand our ties with Georgian farmers, who could become valuable partners and key players in this sector,” said Jacques Chazalet.
As part of the visit, the delegation toured the National Wine Agency’s Wine Museum and tasted wines made from rare Georgian grape varieties. The meeting was also attended by Deputy Minister Lasha Dolidze, Chairman of the National Wine Agency Levan Mekhuzla, and Director of the Agricultural Scientific-Research Center Levan Ujmajuridze.
