The two yearly meeting of agricultural ministers from 44 Asia-Pacific countries – the largest such gathering in the region of policy makers in the fields of food and nutrition security – will be held in Hanoi from 12 to 16 March 20122, hosted by the ministry of agriculture and rural development of Viet Nam (MARD).

Last month the FAO regional office in Bangkok mailed out the invitations for attendance at the 31st session of the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific (APRC).

Agenda
During the first three days, from 12 to 14 March, senior government officers will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues central to food security and rural poverty alleviation in Asia-Pacific countries – focusing on regional and global policy and regulatory issues such as the state of food and agriculture in Asia-Pacific, and on initiatives by the Committee on World Food Security (CFS), as well as programme and budget matters and review proposals for enhancing FAO’s effectiveness and efficiency at country level and make recommendations on the most suitable structure and skills mix of the network of FAO offices in the region.

The report of the senior officials will be reviewed and endorsed by ministers, between 15 and 16 March, and formulate measures to speed up progress by Asia-Pacific countries towards the November 1996 World Food Summit goal of halving hunger levels by half by the year 2015.

Attendance
Besides country delegations from 44 countries, representatives from international non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations, United Nations organizations, civil society and media will attend as observers.

Civil society
In conjunction with the FAO meeting - key civil society organizations from Asia-Pacific and Viet Nam representing farmers, fisher folk, indigenous people, rural women, cooperatives, NGOs and other civil society organizations will meet at an Asia-Pacific Regional Civil Society Consultation on 10 and 11 March, hosted by the Viet Nam Farmers Union, at the Khan Quang Do hotel in Hanoi.

Practical information - such as APRC registration, hotel selection and room booking, is contained in the APRC Information Note.