24 November2023, Rome: FAO Director-General QU Dongyu met with His Excellency Hakainde Hichilema, President of the Republic of Zambia.
His Excellency shared with the Director-General his appreciation for the fruitful relationship between FAO and the Republic of Zambia. He noted the contributions the Organization has made in improving the livelihoods of many under the leadership of the Director-General, and expressed his desire that this partnership continue to grow and strengthen. He noted how the work of FAO in the Republic of Zambia is in alignment with the priorities of the Government and has been valuable in the achievements they have made. He also shared with the Director-General insights on how agriculture is prioritized and a key sector to drive economic diversification and improve livelihoods.
The Director-General thanked the President for his vision and strong support to the Organization and congratulated him for the leadership and support to elevate the status of agriculture as a national priority for economic growth. The Director-General shared with the President his vision of how to transform agrifood systems to make them efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable. He highlighted that with the operationalized FAO Hand in Hand initiative, investment priorities and national development plans can be finalized to benefit the poor and food insecure. In this regard, the Director-General also referred to the One Country One Priority Product as an important initiative for economic development.
The two further exchanged views on the importance of enhancing production and productivity through improved access to inputs, technologies and innovations and sustainable natural resources management to achieve the transformation needed.
The Director General and the President reiterated the collective will to further the strong partnership between the Organization and the Republic of Zambia.
