Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina left Dhaka on Sunday for Italy at the invitation of the United Nations chief to attend the UN Food Systems Summit in Rome from July 24 to July 26.
The summit, titled ‘United Nations Food Systems +2 Stocktaking Moment’ (UNFSS+2), will be held at the Headquarters of Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) with the theme ‘Sustainable Food Systems for People, Planet, and Prosperity: Diverse Pathways in a Shared Journey.‘ It will gather heads of state, agriculture specialists, food producers, scientists, researchers, and stakeholders from different countries.
Key events and meetings
On July 24, the Bangladesh Prime Minister will address the opening ceremony of the summit as a special guest. Notably, UN Secretary-General António Guterres is expected to speak at the event as well. Sheikh Hasina will participate in a plenary session on “Food Systems and Climate Action” at FAO headquarters.
She will hold separate discussions with FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu and President of International Fund of Agricultural Development (IFAD) Alvaro Lario.
The premier will also attend the inauguration of the Bangladesh-Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Room at the FAO headquarters and a reception hosted by the FAO Director-General.
Bilateral engagements and MoU signing
During Sheikh Hasina’s visit, two memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on ‘cooperation in the field of energy’ and ‘cultural exchange programme’ are expected to be signed between Bangladesh and Italy. Additionally, she is scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with her Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni on July 25.
The Prime Minister will also participate in the “Regional Envoy Conference,” which will include 15 Bangladeshi envoys stationed in Europe, and attend a community event.
Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen previously indicated the possibility of signing an MoU with Eni, a prominent gas and oil producer in Europe, to reduce Bangladesh’s energy dependence on the Middle East. Discussions on purchasing military equipment from Italy are also on the agenda.
During her visit, Sheikh Hasina is expected to discuss legalizing undocumented expatriate Bangladeshis living in Italy. The premier is being accompanied, among others, by agriculture minister Abdur Razzaque, foreign minister AK Abdul Momen, food minister Sadhan Chandra Majumder and PM’s private industry and investment adviser Salman Fazlur Rahman during the visit.After concluding her engagements, the Prime Minister is set to return to Bangladesh on July 26.
Overall, the UN Food Systems Summit provides Bangladesh with a crucial platform to collaborate with global stakeholders and address pressing challenges related to sustainable food systems and climate change.
UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment
The UN Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment, as stated by the United Nations Food Systems Hub, aims to capitalize on the progress achieved during the 2021 Food Systems Summit. It will provide an ideal platform for countries to assess their commitment to action and recognize achievements, persistent obstacles, and priorities. The primary objective is to effectively utilize the Means of Implementation to transform food systems and bridge the implementation gap.
Moreover, the event will serve as an opportunity to promote the crucial role of sustainable, equitable, healthy, and resilient food systems as key drivers of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Advocating for urgent action on a large scale, it will be based on the latest evidence that sustainable food systems lead to improved and enduring outcomes for people, the planet, and prosperity, with a focus on ensuring no one is left behind.
Photo Credit: Yeasin Kabir Joy
