175th Session of the Council Inauguration of the International Year of Camelids 2024 Exhibit hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Opening Remarks

His Royal Highness the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Italy,

His Excellency the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to FAO

Excellences,

Ladies and gentlemen,

As-salamu alaykum.

It is an honour to inaugurate this exhibition on the International Year of Camelids 2024 organized by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

As the lead UN agency for the International Year of Camelids, I wish to thank the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for its critical support to this global campaign, including for its generous financial contribution and for co-chairing its Steering Committee, together with the Plurinational State of Bolivia.

The International Year of Camelids 2024 presents a unique opportunity to raise awareness of the economic, social and cultural importance of camelids for millions of households in deserts and other arid and semi-arid lands of Africa and Asia and in the Andean highlands.

Even in the most extreme climatic conditions, camelids provide resilient nutritious food along with fibre, organic fertilizer and transport.

Through their by-products and services, they contribute significantly to food security, nutrition, and livelihoods, while helping to conserve fragile ecosystems.

Camelids play a key role in the identity and culture of local communities and Indigenous Peoples.

They are true heroes of resilience and support millions of people in building their own resilience to the impacts of the climate crisis in mountains and drylands.

As part of resilient and adapted biodiversity, Camelids are also our true allies in combating desertification.

In this regard, I also wish to recognize the leadership of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, as the host of the 16th Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Combating Desertification to be held in December this year.

Dear Friends,

The camelid sector has untapped potential to help advance global efforts to achieve the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,

And plays a key role in FAO’s sustainable livestock transformation framework in support of more efficient, more inclusive, more resilient and more sustainable agrifood systems,

For better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life, leaving no one behind.

This exhibit is a reminder of the need to increase investments in capacity development, research, dryland programmes and projects and outreach, to sustainably develop the camelid sector.

With six months still ahead of us, let us continue working together in an efficient, effective and coherent manner to achieve the objectives of the International Year of Camelids 2024.

I thank you - Shukran.