New Initiative in developing Georgian cookery

The Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, Vera Kobalia, and Rector of Georgian State Agrarian Univeristy, Lasha Gotsiridze, have signed a memorandum on collaboration. According to the document, Georgian State Agrarian University on the base of Faculty of Food Technologies will form culinary courses. The Ministry of Economy and Sustainable Development will transfer free contemporary kitchen equipment.

The cookery training courses will start at the base of Food Product Technologies Faculty where students will master the profession with a contemporary training program. This contemporary equipment is necessary for students to pass the training practices. During the training practices ecologically safe products will be used, which are grown at the University experimental station. After production, one can taste a dish at the University cafeteria.

The Georgian State Agrarian University is committed to the newly opened culinary courses which will be free of charge to the citizens, who are below the poverty line.

“The culinary training courses will prepare professional cooks. They will be employed in leading restaurants and their skills in Georgia will be useful as well as abroad, where cuisine is one of the most important parts of tourism. No less important is the social side of our decision. In particular, a new profession will be available for every layer of our society. We expect a great interest from small income citizens for whom it is very important to master a new profession absolutely free of charge. I call on all our citizens to use this opportunity and learn a new profession at Agrarian University culinary courses,-“Vera Kobalia said.

Michael Saakashvili first announced the culinary courses initiation last year, during a meeting with governmental officials. He said that, cuisine is a strategic field of tourism and the new initiative will contribute to the exportation of Georgian cuisine.

“I want to talk about this unique kitchen equipment that, we gave today to Agrarian University free of charge. At one time, it was purchased for Presidential Palace. For me it was very important, when the President approved the idea to give this kitchen equipment to the culinary school. The main cause for this decision, was that especially our citizens, who have small income, including refugees, at the expense of the state could get a new profession, afterwards use this knowledge for the benefit of their family and country,-“Vera Kobalia said.