Olivier Bürki, Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus, addressed the audience at an opening session stressing the importance of agriculture extension for development of the country.

Among the high ranking officials were Shombi Sharp, Deputy Head of UNDP in Georgia; Nodar Kereselidze, First Deputy Minister of Agriculture of Georgia; and Keti Natriashvili, First Deputy Minister of Education and Science of Georgia.

The conference participants discussed how Georgia can benefit from international experience in agriculture extension and what information and skills are most in-demand to Georgian farmers. The international experts from Switzerland, Denmark and Ireland shared international best practices and their vision of agriculture extension.

The Conference was followed by field visit to the Mtsketa-Mtianeti region to visit vocational education and training centers.