Bilateral meeting with H.E. Richard Takáč, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic

Rome - FAO Director-General, QU Dongyu, met with H.E. Richard Takáč, Minister for Agriculture and Rural Development of the Slovak Republic, on the margins of FAO’s 80th Anniversary World Food Day celebrations and the 2025 World Food Forum at FAO headquarters.

The Minister reflected on the significance of FAO’s 80th Anniversary and expressed appreciation for FAO’s leadership in promoting global food security. He voiced strong support for the messages delivered during the day’s events, noting the need for peace which relies on food security.

The Director-General welcomed the Minister and thanked him for the Slovak Republic’s sustained commitment. He further commended the country for its successful transformation over recent decades. The Director-General agreed with the Minister on the link between development, peace, and societal harmony, and reiterated FAO’s commitment to neutrality in the course of its technical work. The Director-General.

The Minister informed the Director-General of Slovakia’s intention to accelerate its collaboration with FAO, building on the Director-General’s official visit to Slovakia in 2024, and looked forward to the upcoming signing of the Memorandum of Understanding to further strengthen and facilitate joint work. The Minister further highlighted his ambitions for further transform the country’s agrifood system in the Slovak Republic, as well as for enhanced collaboration in FAO’s global work through knowledge sharing, deep engagement and technical support, noting FAO’s extensive global footprint thanks to its broad network on the ground for the effective delivery of its normative work.