SDC Director General Completes 3-Day Visit to Georgia
The Director General of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC, H.E. Manuel Sager, on Friday completed a three-day visit to Georgia, during which he met with the Georgian Minister of Education and Science and the First Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, as well as representatives of the international community, civil society organizations and the private sector.
On 4 May, the Swiss delegation, headed by Ambassador Manuel Sager, was received by the First Deputy Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Nodar Kereselidze. The parties discussed the development priorities of the agriculture sector in Georgia and opportunities for continuous cooperation.
“Development of agriculture is a priority for the Government of Georgia. Switzerland, with the UNDP, FAO, Mercy Corps and HEKS/EPER, support Georgia in accelerating progress in this sector,” Ambassador Sager said. “With the First Deputy Minister, we discussed issues concerning small and medium enterprises, the role of sector associations, the transfer of knowledge and technical skills to farmers, as well as the introduction of new standards and regulations. These issues are important for increasing the productivity and competitiveness of Georgian agriculture. Overall, I am very satisfied with our engagement, partnerships, and cooperation for agriculture in Georgia, and SDC looks forward to continuous progress in this regard.”
“Switzerland’s support is very important for us. Vocational education and training is a precondition for the development of any agricultural field; and it is gradually gaining more importance,” Kereselidze noted.
On the same say, the Ambassador met with Minister of Education and Science, Mikheil Chkhenkeli. The parties discussed the ongoing education reform in Georgia and the increased role of vocational education in this reform. They exchanged views on ways to make vocational education more responsive to the needs of the private sector, which will reduce youth unemployment in the country and contribute to increasing their incomes.
“Switzerland has been supporting the development of the vocational education system in Georgia since 2012,” Sager noted. “Together with the UNDP, we closely collaborate with the Ministry of Education and Science to increase the quality of vocational education in the country and make it more tailored to the needs of the private sector. It will increase the employment and incomes of youth, thus contributing to improving the attractiveness of vocational education in general. Switzerland has a long established vocational education system, which contributes to keeping the youth unemployment rate low. We are sharing relevant practices and examples with Georgia as possible inspiration for continuous progress, and SDC looks forward to further cooperation and support to this important agenda.”
“Modernization of Vocational Education and Training (VET) is one of the most important reforms that are underway in Georgia these days,” said Munkhtuya Altangerel, Deputy Head of the UNDP in Georgia. “Its progress will address some pressing developmental issues, such as unemployment, rural poverty and local business development. With assistance from the Swiss Government, the UNDP helps introduce up-to-date VET models to create more opportunities for the young, as well as for those who wish to get new skills or try new professions.’
On 2-3 May, the Swiss delegation, together with representatives of the partnering UNDP, FAO and Mercy Corps, visited several project sites in Kvemo Kartli and Samtskhe Javakheti regions, where they had the opportunity to review the progress of the Switzerland-funded projects and interact with local authorities and stakeholders, as well as the private sector, NGOs and the local population.
The Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation SDC is the development agency of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland. In 2017, the SDC, in cooperation with the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs and Directorate of Political Affairs, launched its new Cooperation Strategy for the South Caucasus 2017-2020. The Strategy targets the economic development and the strengthening of democratic institutions, as well as human safety and security in the region.
By Katie Ruth Davies