16 February 2024, Rome: The FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, had a bilateral meeting with The Honourable Abul Hassan Mahmood Ali, Minister for Finance of Bangladesh, at FAO Headquarters.
The Director-General conveyed his congratulations to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for winning the election for the fourth consecutive time, and lauded the nation’s remarkable strides in economic growth, notably in infrastructure development, food safety, aquaculture, and food production. The Director-General highlighted that Bangladesh’s effective initiatives in these sectors reflect technology-driven innovation well.
During the exchange, both parties discussed technology development, sustainable agrifood systems transformation, and strategies for enhancing inclusivity. The Director-General emphasized Bangladesh’s significant potential in food production, highlighting the critical importance of increased investment and research in this domain. Furthermore, it was underscored that, with the engagement from local governments and broad participation of private sectors, exploring an effective and collaborative mechanism is essential.
The Director-General also emphasized the importance of identifying public finance tools as a priority, particularly for bolstering investment in key areas like aquaculture and seed production.
