Seventy-forth Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) - Closing remarks

Seventy-forth Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP)

Closing remarks by Dr. QU Dongyu, FAO Director-General

Friday, 12 March 2021

As prepared

 

Mr. Chair,

Distinguished delegates and guests,

Dear colleague and friends,

Excellencies, ladies and gentlemen,

1. You have met over the past three days for the Seventy-fourth Session of the Committee on Commodity Problems (CCP) to address some of the most challenging issues facing global agricultural markets and trade.

2. In this Session, you have considered a number of issues that are of high interest to countries and the international community – issues such as the market situation and outlook, policy developments, price trends, agricultural trade, and digital technologies.

3. You have also received an update on the WTO agricultural negotiations and regional trade agreements, and discussed FAO’s contributions to the 2030 Agenda and SDGs under the mandate of the Committee.

4. I would like to thank you for your active engagement, the high-level of debate, and the hard work throughout the Session.

5. We value your knowledge and experience, and the perspectives you bring from different regions and contexts. This is very important for us, as we say all the time there is “no one size fits all”. We need to take into consideration the different realities of countries.

6. I note with a lot of satisfaction your high appreciation of FAO’s work and activities on markets and trade and on all the work; we have done as part of the COVID-19, our State of Agricultural Commodity Markets (SOCO) and early warning systems. This is very encouraging.

7. As I said in my opening statement – transparent, open and well-functioning food and agricultural markets and trade are vital for food security and nutrition as well as overall sustainable development.

8. We are very pleased with the cooperation and consensus that prevailed throughout the Session, including in the Drafting Committee, and wish to congratulate you for your achievements.

9. Your recommendations will constitute valuable guidance in the further development of our work in the areas of commodity markets, agricultural trade and related issues.

10. Your guidance will help the Organization to move forward in the achievement of its goals and in better contributing to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the SDGs.

11. It will also contribute to our new Strategic Framework, which centered on the 2030 Agenda by supporting the transformation to more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agri-food systems for Better production, Better nutrition, a Better environment and a Better life, leaving no one behind.

12. Last, but not least, I would like to congratulate the excellent work of the outgoing CCP Bureau, and at the same time welcome the newly elected Bureau and the new Chairperson.

Thank you for your attention, and I wish all a nice and restful weekend after the hard work.