Hello,
I am Koba Shekhiladze, from the village of Gezruli in the Zemo Imereti region. I am a teacher by profession, but my passion lies in tea production. To be more precise, I am an organic tea producer. That may be why I was one of the pioneering beneficiaries of the GRETA project co-financed by the EU, Sweden and Austria. Today, I can confidently state that we have a long and fruitful partnership.
My first encounter with the project came through the information shared by Georgia's sole biocertification organisation, Caucascert. To be candid, I had been vigorously searching for information regarding organic production promotion in Georgia, particularly in the highland regions. Then, in 2019, I received some delightful news: three donors—the European Union, Sweden, and Austria—had set their sights on supporting organic production through the GRETA project. It was at this moment that my long-held dream began to take shape.
I must admit that the support from these donors through this project played a pivotal role in my profession. Winning the grant competition enabled us to obtain all the necessary equipment for the entire production cycle of our products. Were it not for this project, my vision would have remained solely within me, unrealised, and I might not have had a production operation started.
Initially, I believed that the assistance was limited to acquiring the equipment. However, there were still remarkable discoveries and new opportunities on the horizon. I want to emphasise that I received additional crucial support, ranging from product packaging to implementing activities necessary for its promotion in domestic and international markets. The turning point was the exhibitions where we introduced Georgian tea to new, foreign markets. It was an exceptional opportunity and a valuable experience.
I intentionally mentioned our long-term partnership because the promotion of my work extends beyond that. I enriched the training programs, covering aspects such as advanced techniques in organic tea production and the strategic management of my business operations. Moreover, we received substantial assistance in terms of biocertification, with the biocertification process funded for two years. In our specific case, obtaining organic certification for our plantations covering 23 hectares represented a significant milestone in our journey.
To summarise, support of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria can be divided into three main categories: (1) improving production by providing modern equipment and maintaining a stable organic status; (2) supporting various marketing activities to package and promote the product, both domestically and internationally; and (3) acquiring necessary skills in the sector and product promotion, as well as increasing sales.
Finally, I can proudly share the tangible outcomes I've achieved through this support. Initially, my harvest amounted to 500 kilograms, subsequently doubling to 1000 kilograms, and so on. Today, it consistently reaches 2 tons. It's safe to say that, within the framework of this project, our production has surged by a staggering 50 times. I consider this a truly remarkable result from my perspective. I want to emphasize again that without this project, it would have been quite challenging for me to take concrete steps toward growth.
I hope my story serves as motivation for fellow
entrepreneurs. I want to offer some advice based on my experience: Quality is
crucial, especially for organic production, no matter what niche you select.
Lastly, education is fundamental;
without it, success won't come. We remain optimistic about the future and are
committed to seeing this venture through to its fullest potential, with plans
to expand further. Additionally, we're looking into the exciting domain of
agrotourism. We are fully prepared for new partnerships, and you can reach me
through the social network - Koba Sheyiladze. - Koba Sheyiladze. Goodbye for
now, and I wish you all the best of luck!
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With the support of the European Union, Sweden and Austria, 68 small and medium-sized entrepreneurs in the highland region of Georgia have received substantial assistance for their business development.
Take advantage of the upcoming success stories, where incredibly fascinating people will share their experiences with us.
Project GRETA | “Green
Economy: Sustainable Mountain Tourism and Organic Agriculture” is implemented
by the Austria Development Agency in Georgia with the support of the European
Union, Austria, and Sweden. The project aims to improve the business
environment and create new income opportunities in two important sectors of the
Georgian economy, mountain tourism and organic agriculture.
This material has been produced with the assistance of the European Union, Sweden, and Austria, within the framework of the GRETA project. Its contents are the sole responsibility of the Austrian Development Agency /GRETA Project and do not necessarily reflect the views of the European Union, Sweden, or Austria.
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