On September 14, 2018, Georgian Institute of Politics (GIP) launched 2nd phase of the Local Advisory Councils (LAC) in regions and organized the meeting in Ambrolauri. Participants of the LAC included representatives of local civil society organizations (CSOs), SMEs and public officials of local Mayors’ offices and Sakrebulos’ of different municipalities from Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region, as well as the staff of the Information-Consultation Centers (ICCs) operating under the Ministry of Environment and Agriculture of Georgia. LAC meeting gathered 31 participants, among them 15 representatives of SMEs, 7 CSOs, and 9 public officials.
The LAC was organized in two sessions. During the first session, meeting facilitator presented identified challenges and recommendations from the sub-economic sectors for Racha-Lechkhumi and Kvemo Svaneti region, which have the export potential to the EU single market (bee-keeping, wine-making and producing of dry fruits). Within the second session, representative of Ministry of Environment and Agriculture presented on-going projects in agriculture in the region, in addition LAC participants discussed the major problems SMEs are facing in producing of Non-timber forest products and Fishing. The identified challenges and recommendations will be presented in the Central Advisory Council to be held on October 30 in Tbilisi.
