Read-out of the FAO Director-General’s meeting with H.E. Sadyr Zhaparov, President of the Kyrgyz Republic
The Director-General and President Zhaparov discussed sustainable mountain development and agricultural modernization in Kyrgyzstan, among other issues.
The President expressed his gratitude for FAO’s close cooperation with Kyrgyzstan on agriculture, food security, and transformative programmes in the country. For his part, the Director-General echoed the President’s comments on the close cooperation between FAO and Kyrgyzstan, and expressed his readiness to further strengthen the relationship.
The President highlighted that as a mountainous and landlocked developing country, Kyrgyzstan attaches high importance to the sustainable mountain development agenda. He noted that following Kyrgyzstan’s efforts, the 76th session of the UN General Assembly adopted, in 2021, a resolution proclaiming 2022 as the International Year of Sustainable Mountain Development. He informed the Director-General that as a follow-up to these efforts, Kyrgyzstan is working on a draft resolution for a five year plan (2023-2027) on sustainable mountain development for adoption.
The Director-General stressed the urgency of helping the most vulnerable countries to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and to this end, he noted the establishment of a dedicated FAO Office for SIDS, LDCs and LLDCs shortly after he took office in 2019. He also highlighted that mountain development is important for food security, biodiversity, ecosystem restoration and agrifood systems transformation in mountainous areas, and commended Kyrgyzstan’s strong commitment and leadership on the issue.
The Director-General stressed that vital elements for agricultural modernization include an enabling environment, technology and investment. He also noted that FAO’s One Country One Priority Product initiative (OCOP), digital agriculture, and the localization of FAO’s Strategic Framework 2022-31 are key to achieving green, sustainable, and resilient agrifood systems in the country.
The President expressed appreciation for the Director-General’s guidance, and conveyed his readiness to further strengthen cooperation with FAO.