The Agency of Protected Areas starts working on the Arsen Okrojanashvili Cave Sustainable Development Project.

The authorities of the Czech Development Agency and the Agency of Protected Areas arranged a meeting with the participation of Petra Mojzisova, project manager - Georgia of the Czech Development Agency.

During the meeting, future steps to develop the facility in accordance with international safety standards were discussed. Initially, hydrological, geological, and seismological studies are planned, which will be carried out by a group of competent experts from the Czech Republic, in order to develop the cave according to their recommendations and assessments.

During the negotiations between the parties, it was emphasized that Arsen Okrojanashvili's cave has good tourist potential and provides an opportunity to contribute to the creation of new jobs and the improvement of the socio-economic condition of the local population. Arsen Okrojanashvili's cave is located in the village of Balda, Martvili municipality.

As a result of the negotiations between the Agency of Protected Areas and the government of the Czech Republic in 2019, the partner country allocated a grant of 500,000 euros for the development of the Arsen Okrojanashvili cave and its potential study. The implementation of the project was temporarily suspended due to the pandemic. This year, the Agency of Protected Areas actively resumed work on the project.

At the meeting arranged at the Agency of Protected Areas, issues of future cooperation were also discussed.