Shraideh, FAO official discuss food security

AMMAN — Minister of Planning and International Cooperation Nasser Shraideh and Abdulhakim El Waer, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) and regional representative for the Near East and North Africa, discussed means to enhance bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the agricultural and food security fields.

Shraideh said that food security in the Kingdom is “a paramount priority” for the government at the national level, where Jordan aspires to become a regional hub in the field through utilising its geographical location, according to a ministry statement.

In this regard, the minister stressed the importance of regional cooperation and supporting programmes that can help the government achieve food security while taking into consideration the challenges the Kingdom faces as a result of hosting Syrian refugees and the repercussions of the Russian-Ukrainian crisis and its impacts on food security and supply chains.

He also praised the existing partnership with FAO and the attention the organisation attaches to the Kingdom, stressing the importance of enhancing cooperation with the organisation, especially under these circumstances. 

He also called on FAO to provide its expertise and support to Jordan.

Waer referred to FAO’s efforts as a specialised UN agency that leads global endeavours to eliminate hunger and provide assistance to realise food security through developing and updating food and agricultural systems.

He also expressed the organisation’s readiness to facilitate the exchange of expertise and data among regional countries, including the Kingdom, which is under the mandate of the Cairo-based regional office.