“It is significant to increase the quality of infrastructure alongside economic growth. Otherwise, we won’t be able to strengthen the economy. We acknowledge that in the international community, the inseparable part of which Georgia is, the competitiveness of our products is directly linked with quality,” said Levan Davitashvili, Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development, at the official opening of the international analytical lab.

Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, Georgian business associations, and representatives of international organizations and the private sector participated in the opening.

Levan Davitashvili spoke about a high-technology research facility that would ensure food safety. He remarked that the lab was established with private investment supported by the Produce In Georgia program.

“For years, quality infrastructure has been created in the country in close cooperation with the European Union. In recent years, our country’s economic policy has been completely in line with European requirements and standards. One of the primary tasks of cooperation with Europe is a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement, a vast part of which is related to meeting sanitary and phytosanitary requirements.

Georgia has progressed. However, it remains the hardest task since we started the formation of quality infrastructure from the beginning,” the Minister said. According to Levan Davitashvili, the lab is accredited according to the internationally recognized 17025 standard, and its certificate will be recognized on the international markets, where Georgian products would enter.

“It is crucial for the country, as well as for a healthy life, for a healthy environment, to have a suitable quality infrastructure, which is also important for the competitiveness of Georgian products on international markets,” he said.

The lab service will comprise eateries, hotels, and medical and veterinary institutions. The lab will offer customers food safety (HACCP) chemical and microbiological services in examining water, meat, dairy products, bakery, wheat and nuts.