07/03/2018 Bangkok, Thailand, FAO’s Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific, and representatives from Japan’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (MAFF), today re-affirmed their close collaboration on technical cooperation work in the region during an annual review of the programme.

The annual review process was “a very valuable occasion that will lead to the strengthening of the FAO-MAFF partnership,” said Daiji Kawaguchi, Deputy Director of the International Organizations Division, within the Minister’s Secretariat at MAFF.

During the review of the MAFF-funded projects, the discussions focused on current projects ranging from support to ASEAN countries on international food safety standards – and the development of more effective and inclusive food value chains – to improving systems of inspections of seeds crossing borders so they can be certified free of pests, as well as combating climate change through healthy soil management.

All projects had made good progress and were well received from the recipient countries. The FAO team also made a presentation to the delegation on FAO’s priorities for the region – areas where the Organization would like to build synergies with MAFF’s priorities for international cooperation – such as food value chains, poverty reduction, the eradication of hunger, and adaptation and mitigation efforts relating to climate change.

The meeting noted that Japan’s contribution to FAO’s work goes beyond financial commitments, particularly given the country’s high level of technical expertise in the areas of agriculture, fisheries and forestry.

“FAO thanks MAFF not just for the (financial) resources you provide, but also for your technical and human resources, something we value very much. We hope that those MAFF-funded projects will play a catalytic role to mobilize Japanese know-how and advance knowledge to the developing countries,” said Jong-Jin Kim, FAO Deputy Regional Representative.

Going forward, both parties have agreed to make further efforts to showcase the good results from the MAFF funded projects across the region.