(9 Feb) - The Ferrero Group is pursuing a three years training program for the Georgian agricultural sector. Purpose of the plan is to help familiarizing with the modern technologies for the cultivation of hazelnuts through the experience and knowledge provided by the agronomists of Ferrero, the Italian company producing popular products like Nutella. The project was inaugurated yesterday in Zugdidi, Georgia, by the Italian ambassador Federica Favi and the Prime Minister of Georgia Nikoloz Gilauri, the Minister of Agriculture, Zaza Gorozia, the governor of the region of Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti, Guram Misabishvili, and Stephen M. Haykin, head of USAID. The training program, a collaboration between AgriGeorgia - a company of the Ferrero Group - and EPI (Georgia Economic Prosperity Initiative funded by USAID), will last three years and will consist of theoretical lessons and practice on lands made available by AgriGeorgia . During the ceremony, the ambassador Favi has spent some encouraging word about the initiative, recalling "The significant investment made by the Ferrero Group in Georgia", and welcoming the working group, which will include Italians, Georgians and Americans. (Ram)

AGRIGEORGIA, A MADE IN ITALY PROJECT
AgriGeorgia was created in 2007, following a detailed analysis of the Black Sea region made by the scientific division of HBD Ferrero. The first area of study, and then work, has been to one around the town of Zugdidi, in the region of Samegrelo. At the end of 2007, 600 hectares were already planted: today there are over 2000 hectares planted. The plantations include Italian and European selections for the industry and a significant percentage of high-quality Georgian cultivars. The innovations and the introduction of new farming techniques are allowing AgriGeorgia to present itself as the leader for the regional rural development related to the diffusion of the hazel tree.