Iraq takes over the presidency of the Near East and North Africa Group of FAO

Baghdad-INA
the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Thursday, that Iraq assumed the presidency of the Near East and North Africa Group of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

The ministry's spokesman, Ahmed Al-Sahhaf, told the Iraqi News Agency (INA), that "Iraq took over the presidency of the Near East and North Africa Group of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the FAO," noting that "the handover ceremony took place at the organization's headquarters in the capital, Rome, in the presence of the Director-General of the organization,  QU Dongyu."

Al-Sahhaf added, ",  QU Dongyu, praised the great and important role of Iraq through his delegates in managing the group for the period from 2021-2022, and the successful hosting of the capital, Baghdad, for the regional conference that was held on 2/7-8/2022," looking forward to "following up on the important international decisions that he came out with." The meeting and Iraq's strategic plan and projects in the coming years, which are concerned with food security and the development of agricultural and irrigation methods, based on the great technological development that the world is witnessing in all fields and electronic mechanization."

The ministry's spokesman pointed out that "the ambassador touched in his speech that Iraq, through his delegation in Rome, will do its best to add innovation and renewal, adopt initiatives and unify visions, taking the opportunity to inform the Director-General of the organization and permanent delegates about Iraq's recent signing of a memorandum of understanding in the agricultural field." Both plant and animal, between Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan, with the aim of enhancing trade exchange in order to achieve agricultural integration between the four countries, as well as continuous cooperation in addressing the phenomenon of climate change and supporting rural development and agricultural extension."

For his part, the Director General expressed his "aspiration for the cooperation of the four countries with the organization to serve its objectives, and he also called on the member states to consider joining this agreement, which will enhance joint cooperation in a way that serves the interests of the countries of the Near East and achieves the well-being of their peoples."