Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s bilateral meeting with H.E. Vahit Kirisci, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye

Bali - The FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met today with H.E. Vahit Kirisci, Minister for Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Türkiye on the sidelines of the G20 Agriculture Ministers Meeting (AMM).

The Director-General and the Minister mutually recognized the important role that digital technologies can play in transforming agrifood systems for achieving food security in the context of current multiple crisis.

In this regard, the Minister commended FAO’s Technical Cooperation Programme for the support provided in developing the country’s five-year e-agriculture strategy. In addition, the Minister also commended some of the key initiatives the Director-General has launched in the Organization since taking office in August 2019 to ensure FAO is fully equipped to serve all its Members, such as the Hand-in-Hand Initiative and the 1000 Digital Villages Initiative.

The Minister noted that as one of the early founders of the Organization, Türkiye values FAO as a key partner. The Director-General expressed his appreciation for Türkiye’s support to FAO’s work and mandate. The two further agreed to work in synergy through initiatives such as the FAO Young Professional Programme to increase the Organization’s visibility among young people in Türkiye.

The two sides also briefly exchanged ideas on potential efforts to overcome the current challenges for global food security.