FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 16, 2018 For additional information: Tamila Chantladze, BP +995 32 259 34 00/ [email protected] Keti Rekhviashvili, USAID Zrda Activity +995 32 222 74 95/ [email protected]

BP Georgia and USAID Zrda Activity to Support Communities across Georgia

Tbilisi, Georgia - On November 16, 2018, DCM Elizabeth Rood and BP Country Manager for Georgia Chris Schlueter joined Samtskhe- Governor Besik Amiranashvili to familiarize with the opportunities of economic and social growth in Zemo Skhvilisi village of the Akhlatsikhe Municipality.

Recently, USAID Zrda in partnership with BP Georgia has launched joint program in 41 villages where BP and Zrda activities overlap, including village Zemo Skhvilisi. Joint program will be implemented as part of the wider Community Development Initiative program, initiated and funded by BP and its oil and gas partners. Focus areas of the partnership are agriculture, business and community development.

Within the joint program, USAID Zrda and BP will support sustainable, social and economic development projects that respond to the needs of the local population and have the potential to positively impact the target communities including by creating jobs and income-generation opportunities.

Program is implemented in 41 target villages with more than 14,000 local residents. Program implementing partner Regional Development Association is working in 19 out of total 41 villages located in the , and municipalities of Samtskhe-Javakheti and Kvemo regions, along the Baku--Ceyhan and South Caucasus Pipelines. Another implementing partner, Biological Farming Association Elkana is working in remaining 22 villages located in the , Gori, Kareli and municipalities of region along the Western Route Export Pipeline (WREP) also known as Baku-Supsa pipeline.

USAID Zrda will co-finance joint projects in these 41 villages through technical assistance, training and small grants activities contributing up to USD 300,000 to the joint program. BP on behalf of its oil and gas partners are investing USD 2 million in the broader Community Development program, current phase of which will be implemented during 2018-2021 in 218 communities, including in 41 villages under the joint program with USAID Zrda.

About BP Georgia: BP on behalf of its partners has been working in this region on oil and gas development and transit for over 25 years including over 22 years in Georgia. BP-operated Baku-Supsa and Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipelines as well as South Caucasus gas pipeline and expansion project in Georgia contribute to the energy security of the country. We are one of the biggest investors in the country and we have invested more than USD 4bn in energy infrastructure including USD 100 million spent and committed in the sustainable development projects. Together with our oil and gas partners, donors and business partners we support local communities and wider society with access to energy and energy efficiency, business start-up and agriculture, education and Paralympic sports. BP and its oil and gas partners initiated Community Development Initiative in 2003 and over the 15 years have invested USD 27 million in the local community development. www.bpgeorgia.ge

About USAID in Georgia: During the past 26 years, the American People, through USAID, have invested more than $1.5 billion in Georgia. USAID projects are designed to support Georgia’s transition to a free and prosperous democracy and include initiatives to accelerate economic growth, develop democratic institutions, and improve health and education. USAID provides economic and humanitarian assistance in more than 100 countries. For more information, please visit: http://georgia.usaid.gov

About USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia: The USAID Zrda Activity in Georgia is a five-year program designed to promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth in 81 communities of five regions of Georgia by improving MSME growth, increasing productivity of rural households, facilitating market linkages between producers and buyers, and promoting local economic development by establishing and strengthening networks. As a result, Zrda will create at

least 2,400 jobs, increase sales for at least 860 MSMEs, increase incomes of 13,200 households, and generate measurable improvements in community resilience. For more information on Zrda, please visit our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/zrda.ge