Readout of the Director-General’s meeting with His Excellency Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros
Addis Ababa – FAO Director-General QU Dongyu today met with His Excellency Azali Assoumani, President of the Union of Comoros, during a high-level side event on the occasion of the 36th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
The Director-General briefed the President on how, since assuming his post as head of FAO, he has introduced reforms aimed at making FAO more agile and responsive. Specifically, he highlighted that through these changes the Organization’s is better able to achieve concrete deliverables on the ground, including through the establishment of a dedicated Office for Small Developing States (SIDS), Land-locked Developing Countries (LLDCs) and Least Developed Countries (LDCs).
He added that he was looking forward to working closely with Comoros both bilaterally, as well as through its AU Presidency for all of Africa.
The President said he supported Qu’s leadership to implement the new FAO Strategic Framework and the three strategies for the private sector, science and innovation and climate change in the years to come.
Both sides discussed common challenges facing the SIDS and the unique issues these face regarding the impacts of the climate crisis. They agreed that it is through innovation and long-term planning and strategic vision that true change can be achieved. They also agreed that digital technologies are vital to address the challenges faced by SIDS.
The Director-General also encouraged Comoros to join the Hand-in-Hand initiative, underscoring how FAO can facilitate the development of the strategic vision, as well as support in partnership bridging and investment plans.
Qu said FAO would continue to provide technical support to Comoros’ efforts to achieve food self-sufficiency and conserving the country’s marine biodiversity, taking note that SIDS play a huge role globally in preserving ecosystems balance.