Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
The initiative group ‘We can” is a union of disabled persons with diversified professional skills such as photography, editing, and hand craft. The initiative group offers tourists memorable services: photography, printing on various items on the spot by heat-press machine, other general printing services such as posters. The initiative group will set up a souvenir shop that sells hand-made crafts.
The aim of the project is to improve tourist service and offer diversified services on touristic sites.
The project involves the setup of a mobile heat-press laboratory, photography services, photo-printing and other print services, and setting up a gift and souvenir shop.
The Group Members:
- Merab Partenadze
- Batu Nakashidze
- Maro Turmanidze
5 people will be employed as a result of implementing the project
Overall project budget: 45,000 GEL
European Union funding: 31,500 GEL
Co-funding: 13,500 GEL
Strategic direction: Agriculture
Keda offers an ideal envrionment for aquaculture due to its rich hydropower and climatic conditions. Pridon Bolkvadze’s project will see the expansion of his existing trout farm.
Every year, Pridon Bolkvadze, prdouces 80,000 fish in his trout farm. The following activities are planned within the project: construction of trout feeding tank, installation of 2-ton refrigerator, construction of storage facility and purchase of thermos-insulated construction for live fish transportation.
The project will result in employing 3 additional people.
Overall project budget: 58,000 GEL
European Union funding: 40,600 GEL
Co-funding: 17,400 GEL
Strategic direction: Agriculture
Keda is home to unique varieties of grapes ideal for wine-making. Grape growing and wine making has been a popular pursuit for many generations. Sulkhan Abuladze’s family has been working in the field of viticulture for many years and has an already successful Chkhaveri vineyard.
The project includes planting 625 vines for a commercial vineyards on 5000 sq.m. land. The project will replace the corn crop with a vineyard, equip the plot with necessary tools, and install a protective fence and irrigation system.
A demonstration plot will also be set up as part of the project.
The family has many years of experience in viticulture and has an already successful Chkhaveri vineyard.
The project will employ an additional 3 people
Overall project budget: 18,500 GEL
European Union funding: 14,800 GEL
Co-funding: 3700 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
The village of Varjanisi is distinguished by the production of high quality wine in the region; a unique vine variety, Chkhaveri, grows here. In addition, the village is also known for its ethnography and folklore.
Chateau Iveri is a luxury hotel and wine cellar that aims to introduce international standards as a result of the project. The hotel will incorporate a wine restaurant. The project involves renovation and improvements be made to the hotel, which will be connected to the viticulture farm and the wine cellar.
Chateau Iveri offers its guests various tourist packages that include accommodation, local cuisine, wine tasting, folk art, and folk crafts.
Within the framework of the project, the following works will be carried out:
- Renovation of the interior of the building
- Purchase and installation of furniture
- Purchase of hotel inventory
- Staff training
- Yard improvement
Chateau Iveri is a family run business and the family has many years of experience in hotel management and tourism.
Romil Beridze, the owner of Chateau Iver, has many years of experience in the field of tourism and management including international experience in Germany and Norway. He has also participated in numerous tourism and family hotel development projects.
As a result of the project, 7 people will be employed - four women and three men.
Overall project budget: 95,300 GEL
European Union funding: 57,135 GEL
Co-funding: 38,165 GEL
Strategic Direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
The village of Vaio is rich in cultural and historical sites including St. George's Church in Zvara, the medieval arch bridge in Dandalo, the Caviani Castle, and more, all of which yield great interest from tourists.
The Shavishvili family have opened a guesthouse and a wine cellar in the village and have Tsolokauri, Chkhaveri, and other grape vineyards along with additional crops. On average, every year the family produces 7 tons of grapes and 4 tons of wine.
The Shavishvili family has 50 years of experience in wine production.
The family offers guests the opportunity to take part in the process of distilling local brandy and to participate in other agricultural activities. The family business also offers its guests hiking tours and an opportunity to prepare and taste Georgian cuisine.
The project aims to equip the winery with modern tools and to purchase wine barrels for storage.
As a result of the project, 5 people will be employed
Overall project budget: 19,600 GEL
European Union funding: 15,680 GEL
Co-funding: 3920 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Keda is rich in plants and environment that are ideal for beekeeping, allowing local beekeepers the possibility to produce many varieties of honey.
Nugzar Verdzadze and his family have been beekeeping for over 15 years, have about 60 bee families, and are artificially breeding queen bees. Every year, they produce 700-800 kg of commodity honey.
The aim of the project is to expand their beekeeping volume, which will lead to the serial selection of queen bees through a selective breeding process. The project will help the family produce more variety of products such as bee milk, bee venom, pollen, and others.
The project includes:
- Purchase of two-story scales (60-80 pieces)
- Purchase of a minimum of two sets of jenter kits and other additional appliances for breeding purposes,
- Purchase of flower dust collector (5-10 pieces) and at least 3 kg of flower dust dryer
- Purchase of modern equipment for collecting bee venom
The members of the family involved in family beekeeping have had many years of experience in this area and are well acquainted with beekeeping practices, including artificial breeding techniques.
Nugzar Verdzadze has many years of experience in beekeeping, not only with caretaking, but also in modern methods for the artificial breeding of queen bees.
As a result of the project, 5 people will be employed
Overall project budget: 17,125 GEL
European Union funding: 13,550 GEL
Co-funding: 3575 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Naira Diasamidze has many years of experience in baking as a pastry chef. One year ago she decided to open her own confectionary. In order to expand and improve the business operations the project will help Naira enrich the variety of products offered by the confectionery, increase the quantity of products and add a delivery service.
The project includes:
- Purchase of modern appliances and equipment
- Renovation of interior and exterior of the building
The following activities will be carried out:
- Purchase of modern style confectionery equipment
- Purchase of appliances
- Improvement of the internal and external facade of the existing confectionery
- Creation of a website
- Placement of banners in the Keda municipality
- Addition of services for online and telephone ordering services
- Purchase of convection confectionery oven, dough mixer, confectionery mixer, air vent, freezer, photo printer, gas stove and other inventory
Overall project budget: 24,870 GEL
European Union funding: 19,790 GEL
Co-funding: 5080 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Gegelidzeebi village is rich in cultural and historic sites which increasingly attract tourists to the area.
The business is a family-owned guesthouse and wine cellar that first opened back in 2006. The family owns Tsolokauri, Chkhaveri, Aladasturi, Saperavi, and endemic grape vines and on average produces 10 tons of grapes and 5 tons of wine every year. The family business also has traditional Qvevri wines (wine stored in the clay vessels that are buried in the ground). In addition to grape vines, the family also grows various fruits.
The guesthouse offers many different services and activities to its visitors, including the opportunity to explore trout and bee farms, participate in rafting, hiking tours, cooking and tasting Georgian cuisine, and Georgian folk performances.
Manana Bolkvadze, is a member of the female entrepreneur’s association and has many years of experience in the tourism sector. Her family has been following wine-making for over 60 years and the tradition has been passed down through generations.
The project entails renovating the guesthouse and equipping the wine cellar.
The project includes equipping the guesthouse kitchen with necessary appliances, purchasing 10 units of 620 liter wine storage tanks, renovating the guesthouse and wine cellar exterior, and installing insulated windows and a metal door for the entrance of the guesthouse.
As a result of the project, 4 people will be employed
Overall project budget: 43,000 GEL
European Union funding: 30,100 GEL
Co-funding: 12,900 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Makho’s Marani was founded 10 years ago and has been integrated into the Wine Route tours. The Wine Cellar offers its guests local traditional cuisine and varieties of natural wine.
The company also offers its guests masterclasses in cooking and participation in the harvest.
The project entails the renovation of guest rooms, halls, and balconies so that they meet the market standards for hosting tourists.
In addition, the project also involves improvements to the cellar. Specifically, the addition of Merisi stone to the construction would create an authentic design for the cellar. The project aims to increase the wine and chacha production while also improving services offered to the guests.
6 people will be employed as a result of the project
Overall project budget: 23,988.89 GEL
European Union funding: 19,123.19 GEL
Co-funding: 4865.70 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
The family guesthouse and winery of Lado Shavishvili produces wine and Georgian brandy made from various fruits and honey. The winery has been integrated onto the well-known tourist route Wine Route map.
Lado Shavishvili is an experienced wine-maker and grape-grower with 40 years of experience. He has been working in tourism over the last 15 years. The family-run winery produces wine grapes unique to the region: Chkhaveri, Tsolokauri, Aladasturi, Ochkhanuri Saperavi, along with other grape varieties. Every year the winery produces 8000 – 10000 kg of grapes.
The winery also has a guest house that offers its guests many activities such as Georgian cuisine degustation, folk music performances, and participation in the grape harvest and wine-making process.
The project entails the construction of a new building for the winery with proper equipment and storage in order to increase the effectiveness, it also includes the interior and exterior design, in order to improve the quality of the wine and the process of wine-making by making it more effective.
The project aims to improve procedures in order to meet the necessary standards for filtration, bottling, and labeling (among others).
As a result of the project 3 women and 1 man will be employed.
Overall project budget: 40,000 GEL
European Union funding: 28,000 GEL
Co-funding: 12,000 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Merab and Giorgi Takidze Wine Cellar has been up and running since 2010. The winery offers variety of wines among which are unique local varieties such as Chkhaveri, Aladasturu, and Tsolikauri. The family has own vineyard in a form of upper and lower plantation.
The project entails renovation and improvement works on the existing wine cellar, purchasing modern equipment for wine production to increase the effectiveness and quality of the winery and the installation of the systems.
Giorgi Takidze, student, is one of the established young wine-makers, he has been involved in wine-making since his childhood. In 2019, Giorgi became the winner of the Keda Wine Festival. Other family members are also involved in the family business, such as Merab Takidze, an experienced wine-maker.
3 people will be employed as a result of the project.
Overall project budget: 22,500 GEL
European Union funding: 16,000 GEL
Co-funding: 6500 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
Over the last years, the business sector in Keda municipality has grown considerably. According to the National Statistics office in Georgia, from 2014 to 2016, the revenues in business sector of Keda municipality has doubled, whereas the production has tripled. With this, the demand for business consultations has also increased. Business Consultations Centre aims to provide a comprehensive consultations to business on financial, administrative, and legal matters.
The centre will also offer consultations on key marketing topics such as social media, creating a website, and opening accounts on existing tourist platforms.
Archil Devadze, the founder of the business consultation centre, is an experienced financier and accountant and has been working in the financial-budgetary service since 2007.
The project involves setting up an office with all necessary office supplies.
As result of the project 4 people will be employed.
Overall project budget: 8,800 GEL
European Union funding: 7,500 GEL
Co-funding: 1300 GEL
Strategic direction: Rural Economic Diversification and Tourism
The environmental characteristics of Keda create ideal conditions for bee-keeping, making it a popular activity in the region. Lamzara Khinikadze is a bee-keeper whose project entails the expansion and improvement of her honey production business.
Lamzira produces Chestunut, Acacia, and flower honey as well as a local brandy made with honey.
Under the project, a Honey House will be set up, where international and local tourists will be able to try honey varieties and local brandy while exploring the bee-keeping process and taking part in extracting honey themselves.
The project will help the producer label and package the products in jars of various sizes, increasing the quality and presentation of the product.
The specific activities of the project are: purchase of honey production equipment and brandy distillery equipment, purchase and transportation of construction materials, renovation of the building, and purchase of all necessary equipment for the Honey House.
5 people will be employed as the result of the project
Overall project budget: 40,000 GEL
European Union funding: 28,000 GEL
Co-funding: 12,000 GEL
Strategic Direction: Agriculture
Keda is known for its viticulture and winemakeing traditions and the village of Milisi is historically known for Chkhaveri variety. Chkhaveri wine is particularly praised for high quality and unique taste and is in high demand.
The aim of the project is a cultivation of Chkhaveri grapes on 0.25 Ha of privately owned agricultural land by Anzor Gvarishvili. In total 361 roots will be planted.
Anzor gvarishvili is an experienced small-scale farmer and wine-maker, he has his own vineyard, wine cellar, cultivates many annual crops as well as apple, pear, nuts, plums, and cherry among others.
As a result of implementing the project 3 people will be employed, among which are 1 woman and 1 young adult.
Overall project budget: 9967,5 GEL
European Union funding: 8467,5 GEL
Co-funding: 1500 GEL
Strategic direction: Tourism Development and Economic Diversification
The family-owned winery Amkhanagoba Mtevani (friendship bunch) produces local grape varieties such as Chkaveri, Tsolakauri, and Vaio Saperavi. In addition, the family also produces Georgian brandy and honey. As part of the overall package, the winery offers its visitors the chance to explore and experience their vineyard and farms and now the family plans to complete its services with a Georgian restaurant.
The aim of the project is to help the family business set up a restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating areas. This entails:
- Renovating the kitchen and equipping it with all the necessary appliances
- Renovating the entire ground floor
The team is composed of members with many years of experience in the tourism sector, including staff who speak several foreign languages, and an experienced cook.
As a result of the project 3 women and 1 man will be employed.
Overall project budget: 39,352 GEL
European Union funding: 27,338 GEL
Co-funding: 12,014 GEL
Strategic Direction: Tourism Development and Economic Diversification
Shervashidze’s wine cellar and family guesthouse started hosting visitors back in 2006 in the village of Pirveli Maisi, in upper Adjara. The family not only offers wine tasting to the visitors but also traditional Georgian cuisines. The guesthouse also offers 1 or 2 day excursions to visit cultural sites from X-XII centuries.
Aleksandre Shervashidze is an experienced entrepreneur and has an in-depth knowledge of the history and the culture of the area that has been passed down in his family for generations. Shervashidze’s wine cellar is a true family business known for its beautiful, cozy and peaceful location, high quality wine tasting, and traditional regional cuisines. Shervashidze’s Ojaleshi wine came in second place at the family wine festival.
The project includes building 4 additional cottages to meet the tourism demand and 2 cars for excursions.
As a result of implementing the project 10 people will be employed
Overall project budget: 46,000 GEL
European Union funding: 32,200 GEL
Co-funding: 13,800 GEL
“Keda Cultural Center” is a multifarious cultural, educational, organizational and information center that often hosts various groups and organizes different cultural events.
The project aims to equip the Cultural Center with musical instruments and adequate sound equipment.
Overall project budget: 60,000 GEL
European Union funding: 36,000 GEL
Co-funding: 24,000 GEL
Viticulture and winemaking are traditional pastimes in Keda municipality, which has great potential for the development of quality wine production.
Malkhaz Surmanidze’s project aims to cultivate the Tsolikauri vine on the territory of 1,200 m2.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 women and 1 man will be employed.
Overall project budget: 5,000 GEL
European Union funding: 4,250 GEL
Co-funding: 750 GEL
The development of viticulture and winemaking has great potential in Keda municipality, which is conditioned by both natural-climatic conditions and a growing demand for local wines.
Zviad Golomanidze’s project aims to cultivate the Tsolikauri vine on the territory of 1,500 m2.
As a result of implementing the project, 1 person will be employed.
Overall project budget: 10,000 GEL
European Union funding: 8,500 GEL
Co-funding: 1,500 GEL
Development of tourism in the Autonomous Republic of Adjara is one of the priority directions. In recent years, the increased flow of tourists in Adjara and Keda municipality motivated the idea of implementing the project.
Zviad Gogishvili's project aims to establish a guest house, food and wine cellar.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 men and 2 women will be employed.
Overall project budget: 33,000 GEL
European Union funding: 23,100 GEL
Co-funding: 9,000 GEL
The region of Adjara is one of the most important tourist regions in Georgia. Keda municipality is located close to Batumi. The tourism sector is actively developing and number of tourists interest in eco-tourism and agro-tourism have increased in recent years.
Zebur Bolkvadze’s project aims to develop agro-tourism by establishing a small traditional, agro-oriented complex on the base of the existing hotel “Zebo.”
As a result of implementing the project, 3 men and 2 women will be employed.
Overall project budget: 20,370 GEL
European Union funding: 16,000 GEL
Co-funding: 4,370 GEL
Zakro Basiladze’s project aims to establish a poultry (Broiler) farm. The farm, the slaughterhouse and the meat-market will be arranged together in the same location.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 men and 6 women will be employed.
Overall project budget: 46,800 GEL
European Union funding: 25,400 GEL
Co-funding: 21,400 GEL
Keda municipality retains a rich environment with ideal hydropower and climatic conditions for the development of aquaculture. Tamaz Nakashidze’s project, a trout farm called “Peranga,” aims to enlarge the already existing farm, arrange additional sewage pools and thus increase the volume of production.
As a result of implementing the project, 7 men and 1 woman will be employed.
Overall project budget: 20,000 GEL
European Union funding: 16,000 GEL
Co-funding: 4,000 GEL
Winemaking is a traditional agriculture sector for Keda Municipality, which is largely due to the favorable climate conditions in the region. Selman Beridze’s project aims at cultivating the Tsolikauri vine on a territory the size of 800 m2.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 people will be employed.
Overall project budget: 5,000 GEL
European Union funding: 4,250 GEL
Co-funding: 750 GEL
Keda Arts School is an informal education facility providing educational and professional training. The project ensures adequate instruments and technology for further educational purposes.
Overall project budget: 20,000 GEL
European Union funding: 12,000 GEL
Co-funding: 8,000 GEL
Winemaking is one of the primary agricultural directions in Keda municipality and the Chkhaveri vine is a traditional variety in the region. The project of Roland Tsiteladze will cultivate Chkhaveri vines on a private territory the size of 500 m2.
As a result of implementing the project, 3 people will be employed.
Overall project budget: 2,949 GEL
European Union funding: 2,505 GEL
Co-funding: 444 GEL
Winemaking is one of the primary agricultural directions in Keda municipality. Ramzi Turmanidze’s project will cultivate Chkhaveri vines on a territory the size of 1,500 m2.
As a result of implementing the project, 5 people will be employed.
Overall project budget: 10,000 GEL
European Union funding: 8,500 GEL
Co-funding: 1,500 GEL
The initiative group with the representation of Ramin Golomanidze, is implementing a project that proposes to create an extreme tour service in the village of Makhuntseti. More specifically, the project proposes to establish a zorbing area, a bouldering wall and a rope bridge.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 women and 3 men will be employed.
Overall project budget: 30,900 GEL
European Union funding: 19,400 GEL
Co-funding: 11,500 GEL
The project of the aquaculture development association “Foreji” proposes to establish fish incubation demonstration farm in the village of Tsoniarisi that will be equipped with modern technology. The project will ensure the breeding of healthy and high-quality fish and a sufficient supply of fish to fish farms throughout the year.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 men and 1 woman will be employed.
Overall project budget: 100,653 GEL
European Union funding: 53,711 GEL
Co-funding: 46,942 GEL
Neli Bolkvadze's project proposes to establish a 600 m2 raspberry greenhouse, cultivating modern varieties and installing an irrigation system. It is noteworthy that there is a growing demand for fresh raspberries at the local level and that is one of the key aspects for ensuring the successful business.
As a result of implementing the project, 2 women and 1 man will be employed.
Overall project budget: 10,000 GEL
European Union funding: 8,500 GEL
Co-funding: 1,500 GEL
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of The EU and CENN or its other donors unless otherwise stated.