The delegation of Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Sub-Regional Office for Central Asia, led by Dr. Ayşegül SELIŞIK, Assistant FAO Representative in Türkiye, and the senior representatives paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK to discuss potential areas of cooperation at the SESRIC Headquarters.

During the meeting, the both sides focused on means and ways to increase the cooperation between the two institutions for the benefit of their mutual member countries. Both H.E. SELÇUK and Dr. SELIŞIK underscored bringing about synergies by utilising South-South cooperation modalities to promote knowledge exchange, capacity building, and sustainable agricultural development in the mutual member countries of the OIC and FAO. Discussions particularly covered potential joint projects aimed at strengthening fisheries and aquaculture statistics, poverty alleviation through agriculture, with an emphasis on beekeeping, apiculture, and resilient seed production, for rural development. Both sides also exchanged ideas on possible partnerships to promote opportunities in the agricultural sector by integrating Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) modalities designed for increasing agriculture-specific competencies of the new generation of farmers and agricultural technicians. In addition, area-specific potential projects focusing on supporting employment in the agricultural sector together with empowerment of women and youth for sustainable agriculture were also covered.

The both sides indicated their willingness to submit joint project applications to the relevant fora to increase their collective impact for the benefit of their common member countries. The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their readiness to further enhance their cooperation in areas of shared interest.

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