Bureaucratic obstacles were a key issue at a meeting between Agriculture Minister Davit Songulashvili and fruit exporters. Vakhtang Bezhitashvili, chairman of the Fruit and Vegetable Exporters Association, told BMG that the minister promised to address the problems, with a working group to be established at the ministry.
Bezhitashvili said excessive paperwork is delaying exports, citing a case in which a truck loaded with plums stood for 48 hours because required documents could not be obtained. He said exporters were asked to provide village-level confirmation of where the fruit was purchased and grown, requiring multiple additional procedures. “The entire bureaucracy is set up in a way that seriously hinders exports,” he said, noting that perishable products should not have to wait 48 hours for phytosanitary certification.
He also cited problems with tax administration, saying exporters have faced significant fines after the Revenue Service contacted farmers years later to verify purchase documents. Bezhitashvili also stressed the need to diversify export markets, saying dependence on Russia has caused losses this year as large quantities of plums were discarded, while blueberry prices were also unfavorable.
Songulashvili said cooperation between the government and private sector is important for developing exports. “Our goal is to help expand export opportunities and increase the competitiveness of Georgian products in international markets,” he said, adding that the ministry will work with businesses to find more effective solutions.
