Bilateral meeting with H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, H.E. Ziyozoda Sulaimon Rizoi, Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Qurbon Hakimzoda, Minister of Agriculture, and H.E. Nasredin Ismatullo, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Dushanbe -  FAO Director-General, Dr QU Dongyu and H.E. Emomali Rahmon, President of the Republic of Tajikistan, met during the Director-General’s three-day visit in Tajikistan, to discuss ways to strengthen collaboration between FAO and Tajikistan.

The President welcomed the Director-General and recalled his visit to FAO headquarters in 2024, emphasizing that Tajikistan was primarily an agricultural country, and FAO was a strategic partner for agricultural developments and for food security.

The Director-General thanked the President for the invitation to visit Tajikistan and commended him for his leadership and strong commitment to the transformation of the country’s agrifood system, as well as for his active role in promoting the Water Agenda in UN fora.

The President noted that collaboration with FAO covered key areas such as food security, agrifood systems transformation, water management and climate change adaptation, and that Tajikistan was also participating in several FAO initiatives, including Hand-In-Hand, One Country One Priority Product (OCOP) and Digital Villages. In addition, the President noted that in the framework of the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS), FAO had supported Tajikistan’s application for the agropastoral system adapted to harsh mountain conditions – the Almosi Valley in Hissar. Finally, the President highlighted that the country also needed FAO’s support for the development of the seeds industry and for pest control.

During his visit to Tajikistan, the Director-General also met with the Deputy Prime Minister, H.E. Ziyozoda Sulaimon Rizoi, during which they discussed areas of collaboration such as in addressing the locust threat, pasture degradation and seed breeding, among others.

The FAO Director-General also met with H.E. Qurbon Hakimzoda, Minister for Agriculture of Tajikistan during their visits to the GIAHS site, locust-affected arears, tout producers and meat processing companies. Both agreed on the need to continue to work together to ensure agrifood system transformation and the Four Betters.

Finally, during his visit, the Director-General also had the opportunity to meet with His Excellency Nasredin Ismatullo, First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, during which they discussed areas of mutual interest and agreed on the need to continue strengthening the good relations between Tajikistan and FAO.