The Ambassadors from 27 African countries Head of the Diplomatic missions to Sudan participated in the briefing held at the Ministry of Foreign affairs in Khartoum on the 30th FAO Regional Conference for Africa (ARC) jointly hosted by the Government of Sudan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), 19-23 February 2018, Khartoum, Friendship Hall.

The official theme of the ARC in Khartoum 19 to 23 February 2018 is: Sustainable development of agriculture and food systems in Africa - improving the means of production and the creation of decent and attractive employment for youth. The conference discussion will focus on various issues related to agriculture, Food Security and Natural Resources Management on which a total of 30 documents have been produced to support the deliberations in 10 different sessions and 4 side events.

The briefing with the African Ambassadors to Sudan was chaired by Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) His Excellency Amb Abdel Ghani Elnaim  Awad Elkarim supported by the  Undersecretary Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry and Dr Badereldin Elshiekh Mohamed Elhassan and the FAO Representative in Sudan, Mr Babagana Ahmadu.

Briefing on the status of the preparation of the 30^th FAO Regional Conference for Africa, Mr. Babagana and the MFA Undersecretary informed the ambassadors that to guarantee the success of a National Organizing Committee (NOC) headed by the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry with the membership of all related Ministries was formed and is working in full coordination with FAO Sudan and endorsement of FAO Regional Office for Africa and Headquarters.

The Undersecretary was honored to announce that His Excellence, FAO Director General, Mr Graziano da Silva, will arrive in Khartoum 21th February 2018 for the Ministerial sessions of the Conference.

Mr Babagana updated the ambassadors on the main themes of the Ministerial Round tables, the organization of the ARC and follow up actions.

The Undersecretary encouraged the African countries to attain the conference success, by their high level participation and active contribution. We can better look into these urging topics of food security and decent employment, together, when we secure the highest level of participation of all the African Ministers of Agriculture in the coming conference, he said.

The briefing was well received by the ambassadors and was followed by number of supporting statements from various members of the diplomatic community in Khartoum.