Visit to Italy successful: PM Prachanda

 Kathmandu, July 28

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda said that his trip to Rome in Italy to participate in the United Nations Food Systems Summit was a successful as Nepal actively partipated in the conference and important meetings held during the conference and sidelines of it.

"I believe that the image of Nepal as an independent, sovereign country that is committed to the United Nations and multilateralism as a whole has become more prominent at the international forum, especially in the United Nations forums," he said while talking to the journalists upon his arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport after participating in the United Nations Food Systems Summit +2 Stocktaking Moment (UNFSS+2) held in Rome, Italy from 24 to 26 July.

The event was organized by the United Nations, the Italian government and Rome-based Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Food Program (WFP) and International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

PM Prachanda had bilateral meetings with high level dignitaries of the UN system, including the Director General of the FAO, the Executive Director of the WFP, and the President IFAD, among others. He also held a sideline meeting with his Bangladeshi counterpart Sheikh Hasina.

Nepal's participation in this important conference was maintained with the aim of determining the way forward by sharing experiences, discussing and evaluating the progress we have achieved in the overall agricultural development system, the opportunities available to us, and the challenges facing us.

Earlier in November 2021, Nepal had participated in the United Nations Food Systems Summit, held virtually, and participated in discussions on the sustainable agricultural development, food security, access to adequate and healthy food, and the end of hunger expressed by Agenda 2030.

"I addressed the official opening of the summit in the capacity of the Prime Minister of Nepal and Chairman of the Least Developed Countries (LDCs) on July 24. Likewise, I addressed another session on 'Food systems transformation in practice - successes, challenges and the way forward' as a key speaker," said PM Prachanda.

He had also addressed plenary session on school meal as the head of the government of Nepal.

While addressing the opening session held on 24 July, PM Prachanda had said that food security; easy access to adequate, safe and healthy food should be the priority of the international community.

In addition, he emphasized that to rekindle hope in the millions of vulnerable citizens of the LDCs, there is a need for the international community to show collective responsibility to address the challenges related to food supply, security and ending hunger.

He also stressed on the need to ensure easy access to technology, fertilizers, markets and capital especially for small farmers for sustainable and reliable productivity growth to overcome climate change that has occurred globally.

Speaking in the Plenary Session related to School Meals held in the morning on the same day, I presented the efforts made by the Government of Nepal in relation to School Meals before the international community, said the prime minister.

According to him, the international community was already aware that Nepal's experience in school feeding was actually a successful experience. More than 3.3 million children have benefited from the programme. There has been a significant change in the number of students enrolled, attendance, and their learning level through this programme.

"In the last five years we have increased the budget of the midday meal programme by four times. Imbibing this fact, 6 percent of the total national budget has been set aside for this programme," said PM Prachanda.

In addition to the formal programs, the prime minister held bilateral meetings and dialogues during the conference. He held a sideline meeting with Secretary-General of the United Nations, Antonio Guterres where the two talked about the climate change, poverty alleviation and food security.

Likewise, PM Prachanda and Bangladeshi PM Hasina talked about economic and energy cooperation between the two countries.

"It is a known fact that the Bangladesh government is willing to purchase hydropower produced in Nepal. This very important dimension of economic interdependence is now in the implementation stage," said PM Prachanda.

Similarly, during his visit, he participated in the programme organized by the Non-Resident Nepali Association in Italy and discussed various issues with the Nepali community there.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 July 2023.