RIGA, Nov 14 (LETA) - The Agriculture Ministry is planning to appoint the Rural Support Service's deputy director Andris Grundulis as the service's director on November 26, according to the Agriculture Ministry's draft decree.

The ministry points out that the draft decree has been prepared to ensure continuity of the Rural Support Center's operations and efficient performance of its functions, as the post of the service's director has been vacant since August 15 when the previous director Girts Krumins was appointed the Agriculture Ministry's state secretary.

Agriculture Minister Armands Krauze (Greens/Farmers) believes that appointing Grundulis director of the Rural Support Service will ensure good governance and efficient performance of the tasks of the service.

The ministry also said that Grundulis had accepted the job offer.

Grundulis has been working at the Rural Support Service since June 3, 2002.

According to the Rural Support Service, Indulis Abolins is currently the Rural Support Service's acting director.

As reported, Krumins took office as the Agriculture Ministry's state secretary on August 15. The ministry's previous state secretary Raivis Kronbergs was appointed director of the State Chancellery on July 23.

The Rural Support Service is a state institution supervised by the Ministry of Agriculture, which administers state and EU support for rural areas, agriculture, forestry and fisheries.