USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program
Georgia
Overview
The USAID Agricultural Trade Diversification Program was a one-year, $28.9 million program (2024-2025) that aimed to increase Georgian agricultural exports to the U.S. and other high-value markets while reducing Georgia’s dependence on Russia for exports. The Program achieved this by cultivating resilient, export-oriented market systems through an approach designed to strengthen linkages between a diverse range of agricultural sector stakeholders and by stimulating private sector investment to overcome barriers to growth and promote the adoption of innovative technologies.
Impact
- $1.23 million generated in trade linkages
- Export Market Assessment (EMA) completed to identify promising product-market combinations, key market actors, and systemic barriers to trade diversification
- Capacity of business associations and business service providers strengthened to improve service delivery in key export-related areas
- Public-private partnerships developed to facilitate exports
Objectives
- Strengthen business linkages to help Georgian agricultural products reach high-value export markets.
- Stimulate investment to strengthen market systems and address barriers to growth.
Approach
Program activities focused on achieving the two complementary objectives by addressing both demand- and supply-side constraints to trade diversification through a market systems development approach.
- By working to connect agribusinesses, nongovernmental organizations, and other relevant actors, the Program developed a network of stakeholders capable of diversifying export portfolios and meeting international market standards.
- To improve the competitiveness of Georgian agribusinesses, the Program provided technical assistance and capacity building and leveraged private sector investment in export-oriented agricultural firms. With this support, market actors were able to add value to their exports and reach more lucrative export markets, thereby building an internationally competitive agricultural economy.
- The Program promoted private sector investment in innovative technologies and practices, allowing agribusinesses to improve both productivity and resilience.
- The Program aimed to address underlying market system constraints and reorient Georgia’s agricultural exports away from traditional markets through:
- Co-investment grants
- Technical assistance
- Partner capacity building
- Access to debt and equity financing
- Supply chain management and logistics
- Policy and regulatory improvements
