The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), together with the Permanent Delegation of the African Caribbean and Pacific Group of States (ACP) in Geneva and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) organized a panel discussion entitled “Agriculture trade in the new era: the relevance of agribusiness and agro-industry for the 2030 Agenda and for ensuring more inclusive trade” at the WTO Public Forum 2017

This session was held on 27 September at the WTO Headquarters and gathered around 250 participants including Ministers, Ambassadors to the WTO, and representatives of UN agencies academia, civil society, and the private sector.

The objective of this panel was to explore the potential of agribusiness and agro-industry fro trasnfroming rural economies and making trade more inclusive. The session was moderated by Ambassador Marwa Joel Kisiri, the Head of ACP in Geneva, and speakers included Mr. Mohammad Pervaiz Malik, Minister for Commerce and Textile of Pakistan; Mr. Moshe Neo Kao, Permanent Representative of the Kingdom of Lesotho to UN in Geneva; Ms. Carolyn Rodrigues Birkett, Director of the FAO Liaison Office in Geneva; Mr. Frank Hartwich, Industrial Development Officer from UN Industrial Development Organization and Mr. Zubair Tufail, President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

Carolyn Rodrigues-Birkett, Director of the FAO Liaison Office with the United Nations at Geneva, emphasized that agribusiness and agro-industry are key to connecting farmers and consumers and central to the fast-paced structural transformation process of food systems. She underscored the critical role that enabling policies and support to sustainable agribusiness and food value chains play in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and further noted that concerted international efforts will enhance the synergies among various partners in technical cooperation, financing and knowledge management.

Minister Malik recalled that more than 70% of the population is active in agriculture and allied industries in Pakistan and stressed the need for increased investment and technological development in the sector. Zubair Tufail, the President of the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry, also echoed the Minister call to mobilizing more investments in agro-industry and highlighted the need for close public-private partnerships to expand agribusiness opportunities. UNIDO Industrial Development Officer Frank Hartwich called for more inclusive development partnerships like 3ADI+, highlighting the importance of agroindustry and agribusiness for socio-economic growth in ACP and developing countries.