Revaz Vashakidze, founder of poultry producer Chirina, says introducing import quotas is essential for strengthening Georgia’s local chicken meat industry. Speaking at the first meeting of the parliamentary “Price Commission,” he emphasized that discussions must avoid excessive state interference in business processes. Vashakidze noted that low-priced imported products make competition difficult, forcing the company to expand exports to Armenia and Azerbaijan.
According to him, a quota system would allow producers to plan long-term investments. He cited the recent example of Chinese chicken breast imported at just GEL 4, which severely disrupted the market. Chirina managed to overcome the issue by exporting to neighboring countries where Chinese imports are restricted. Without quotas, he said, stable production becomes extremely challenging.
Other industry representatives raised similar concerns. Ketie Vashakidze of Biu-Biu Plus said retail chains prioritize only price, making it harder for local producers to enter major networks. She argued that tax or regulatory incentives may be needed to motivate retailers to offer Georgian products, as cheaper imported goods often dominate shelves due to free trade and lower costs.
Revaz Vashakidze also stressed the need for stronger state control over the spread of animal diseases, noting that recent egg shortages were partly caused by outbreaks arriving from Armenia and Azerbaijan. Despite taking preventive measures, Chirina still faced millions in losses last winter. He urged the Ministry of Agriculture to intensify vaccination efforts and impose restrictions on the import of live poultry to prevent further spread of infectious diseases.
