“This is the case when government officials shall remain silent and support the company Blauenstein Georgia in doing more good deeds,” said the Prime Minister of Georgia, Giorgi Kvirikashvili, in his opening speech.

The event was attended by Minister of Agriculture Otar Danelia, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development Dimitri Kumsishvili, Swiss Ambassador in Georgia Lukas Beglinger and Regional Director of the Swiss Cooperation Office for the South Caucasus Olivier Bürki.

“Indeed, this company is a perfect example of successful Swiss-Georgian entrepreneurship. The company is a success story from the point of view of its owners and its hundreds of employees, but it is also a success story for the Racha-Lechkhumi mountain region, for the Georgian agricultural sector and the Georgian economy in general”, stressed the Swiss Ambassador in Georgia.

Blauenstein Georgia is a joint Swiss-Georgian venture, which was established in 2008 with its main farm in the village of Shardometi, Racha-Lechkhumi region. The company produces so-called “flesh meat” according to the Swiss standards. Its founders pursue the concept to control and manage the entire quality and sanitary chain from the farm to consumers.

Olivier Bürki, Regional Director of Cooperation, highlighted in his speech the exemplary cooperation of the two - Swiss and Georgian - businessmen. “The projects like this are vital for the development of mountainous regions of Georgia. Offering more employment opportunities to local people means suspension of further depopulation of the mountains. The Swiss Cooperation Office has been long implementing agriculture projects of a similar nature, to foster jobs and opportunities in rural areas; it will continue doing so in the near future.”

The Blauenstein Georgia plans to open 20 more cattle farms, a new shop and employee up to 135 people in the coming two-three years.