Under the patronage of H.E. Prime Minister Ahmed Nazif, the Twenty-Ninth FAO Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC-29) will be held in Cairo during the period 1 to 5 March 2008, at the kind invitation of the Government of the Arab Republic of Egypt. The Conference comprises two major meetings: the first meeting from 1 to 3 March 2008 for Senior Officers and the second, on the 4th and 5th, is held at the Ministerial level.

H.E. Dr Jacques Diouf, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations will also inaugurate the Ministerial Meeting tomorrow Tuesday 4 March, 2008.

The Conference will be attended by the Ministers for Agriculture of the 32 Member Countries of the FAO Near East Region, in addition to observers and representatives of regional and international  organizations.

During the Ministerial meeting, The Director-General of FAO, Jacques Diouf will deliver FAO’s statement.

There will also be discussions on the reform inside the organization and its implications on the Near East Region, pressing issues in the Region,  in addition to a report on FAO’s activities in the Near East Region.

The Conference is expected to reach important recommendations addressed to Member Countries and the FAO.