Businessman Giorgi Svanidze is connected to an unprecedented decision in the 60-year history of the "International Olive Council" — this authoritative UN organization has elected him as its chairman for a second consecutive term.
This success is connected entirely to the results achieved during Giorgi Svanidze's chairmanship and to the Georgian businessman's innovative vision. Under Giorgi Svanidze's leadership, the "International Olive Council" reached previously unseen scales of expansion, with 7 new countries joining the council, among them such large countries of the East as Uzbekistan and Azerbaijan.
The "International Olive Council" was founded 60 years ago by the Spanish royal family. The council unites the world's largest countries, which possess the greatest traditions and volumes of olive cultivation and production — for example, Spain, Italy, Morocco, and Greece. The "International Olive Council" controls 97% of the world's olive business; this organization issues the certificates necessary for the production and sale of olives on the world market, and it also carries out 74% of the world's olive trading.
For Georgia, chairing this council for the second consecutive year is a precondition for new perspectives and for the revival of a new culture in the country's agriculture. The country is given a unique chance to become, after Italy and Spain, the world's third hub of olive production and to supply the countries of East Asia with Georgian and European olives. As for the prospects within the country — olive cultivation and oil production will become comparable in volume to the directions of wine, grapes, and hazelnuts, which automatically means increased jobs and employed people, and growth in exports and investments.
The prospect of Georgia forming as a world hub of olive production emerged after businessman Giorgi Svanidze founded the "Svanidze Olive" company 10 years ago and, with the support of the Ministry of Agriculture, established olive plantations on 100 hectares of land in Kakheti. As it turned out, Georgian olives thrive especially well on Georgian soil, and in quality they surpass olives produced in other countries by various parameters. It was precisely this fact that interested the "International Olive Council," which gave Georgian olives the green light on the world market by awarding them a certificate confirming the highest category of quality, after which the company began exporting Georgian olives. And in Georgia, the 100% share of olive imports was replaced by 25% with Georgian olives.
"For me, as a businessman, it is a very great honor to chair, for a second year, the organization founded by the Spanish royal family, which sets the weather for olive cultivation and trading in the world. Moreover, it is very gratifying that my period of chairmanship, in 2021, will coincide with the council's 60th anniversary. Since Georgia is the chairing country this year, the jubilee will also be held precisely in Georgia. In September–October an assembly will be held, and the largest investors from 50 countries will come to Georgia; they will get acquainted with our country, our culture, and the prospects of olive production, which in the future will be a precondition for attracting solid investments to Georgia and creating new jobs," says Giorgi Svanidze, whose founded company "Georgian Olive" employs more than 300 people and who, even against the backdrop of this pandemic and restrictions, tend to the olive groves established on 100 hectares.
Giorgi Svanidze does not limit himself only to his own olive groves and oil production. He helps and consults everyone — every person or organization — planning to plant olives and to make their own contribution to the revival of this field. He familiarizes himself on-site with the process of olive cultivation — the advice of a person experienced in this field, and simply standing by one's side, is truly invaluable help for beginners.
So, if you intend to revive Georgian olives, if you plan to cultivate this ancient and mystical-divine culture, do not be lazy — visit Giorgi Svanidze's olive groves in Sighnaghi, get advice, and see the place from which a new Georgian history begins — the history of how Georgia became the world's third olive hub.
