Minister of Information with FAO Director General during the signing ceremony

FAO, Kuwait sign deal on backing sustainable development plans

03/12/2019

ROME-- Kuwait and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Tuesday signed an agreement to open a permanent office for contact and partnership so as to support national sustainable development plans.

The deal was signed by Kuwait's Minister of Information and Minister of State for Youth Affairs Mohammad Al-Jabri, and FAO Director General Qu Dongyu at the organization's H.Q in Rome.

The signing ceremony was also attended by Kuwait's Ambassador to Italy Sheikh Azzam Al-Sabah, Permanent Representative to FAO Yusuf Al-Juhail, Third Secretary Sultan Al-Otaibi and Kuwaiti Embassy's Counsellor Sami Al-Zamanan.

Speaking to KUNA in a statement, Al-Jabri said the deal aims mainly to boost the country's food and agriculture sector, adding that it was fruit of efforts and negotiations over two years to set a strategy and a mechanism of action.

Signing the agreement stems from the country's desire to benefit from FAO's experiences, he added.

The deal has two parts; the first is to open the office while the second is to launch a partnership program for cooperation between FAO and Kuwait to carry out joint projects in the agriculture and fisheries sectors, he noted.

Of the most projects the FAO will contribute to carrying out is to develop and restructure the fisheries sector, which is a main pillar of security food in the country, the minister pointed out.

He lauded the deal's provisions aiming at training the national technical calibers in order to work together with FAO's experts and specialists, stating that these calibers will contribute to making a comprehensive renaissance for the strategy of security food in Kuwait.

Among the several projects to be implemented within the framework of the partnership agreement is the development of water resources in a sustainable way amid water scarcity inside the country, he said.

He also pointed to other projects on improving the breeds of sheep, training staff and developing technical capacity of the Public Authority of Agriculture Affairs and Fish Resources.

The move aims at achieving the acceleration of sustainable development through depending on FAO's unique practical and scientific experiences in all sectors relating to food, agriculture, as well as social, developmental and economic development, he said.

Meanwhile, FAO's chief said that the deal constitutes a big progress in terms of the ties between Kuwait and FAO, adding that the office will boost partnership, which is one of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

He said Kuwait has a leading position in FAO for its efforts and contribution to the organization's activities.

Furthermore, Ambassador Sheikh Azam Al-Sabah extolled this important accomplishment in bolstering cooperation with FAO.

He said it is a big step to benefit from FAO's expertise and capabilities in enhancing sustainable development and security food as well as enabling youth and national calibers to get international expertise.