FAO Director-General’s inaugural visit to the United States

19-20 September, Washington, DC – FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu met with FAO staff and senior government and multilateral organizations officials, including U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue, during his inaugural visit to Washington, DC, in advance of the 74^th UN General Assembly in NY.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue congratulated Qu Dongyu for taking up the position and also envisaged strengthening collaboration with FAO. The meeting was chaired by Ted McKinney, Under-Secretary for Trade and Foreign Agricultural Affairs, USDA, and included U.S. Ambassador to Rome Based Agencies Kip Tom.

At the World Bank, Qu Dongyu met with Laura Tuck, Vice President of Sustainable Development; Shaolin Yang, Managing Director and Chief Administration Officer; and Humberto Lopez, Acting Vice President for Latin America and the Caribbean, along with other senior officials who joined the separate meetings. Qu Dongyu briefed officials on FAO’s new Hand-in-Hand initiative to accelerate progress on Sustainable Development Goals 1 (to end poverty) and 2 (achieve zero hunger) in Small Island Developing States, least developed and landlocked countries. 

He also met with IFC Vice President of Partnerships, Communications and Outreach, Karin M. Finkelston, who noted areas where FAO’s research and knowledge base can complement IFC’s work with the private sector in agribusiness. 

Naoko Ishii, CEO and Chairperson of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), had a good discussion with Qu Dongyu about how FAO and the GEF should work more closely to minimize the impact of the agricultural sectors on the environment.

Last but not least, Qu Dongyu also met with the President of the Inter-American Development Bank, Luis Alberto Moreno, and discussed how FAO and IADB can work more jointly on projects in the Caribbean and Central America to increase agricultural productivity and generate higher income for local farmers.

For more updates, visit the FAO Director-General website and follow @FAODG on twitter.