DPM Simović attends FAO Conference in Rome

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Milutin Simović will participate in the 40th session of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) Conference in Rome. On the first day of his stay in Rome, Simović met with the Director General of the FAO, José Graziano da Silva.

DPM Simović presented the activities that are being carried out in the agricultural sector, aimed to increase the competitiveness of Montenegrin agriculture. He stressed the need for further investments, financial and professional efforts, in order to achieve the goals related to further improvement of the agriculture sector and growth of competitiveness of Montenegrin producers. The Minister emphasised that Montenegrin agriculture is in the phase of accepting the standards of the European Union, through the acceptance of the acquis in this area, while preserving all the specificities of Montenegrin agriculture.

Simović assessed cooperation between Montenegro and FAO as very good, and on that occasion he recalled the significance of the signed Programming Framework for Cooperation 2015-2019, which should serve to generate further joint projects through which the further development of Montenegrin agriculture will be supported.

FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva thanked Montenegro for its active involvement in policy making of this international organisation, stressing that the FAO's task was to further decentralise the activities so that even smaller countries could give full contribution to the activities of the organisation. Da Silva said that the FAO, as an organisation that gathers 194 member states, insists to adapt more closely its global policies to the regional approach according to which the activities and initiatives go from member states to the FAO.

"The fact that Montenegro, as a representative of the European Regional Group, is a member of the FAO Council as the largest executive body, sends clear message that, regardless of size, each country has the ability to actively participate and create the organisation's policy," Da Silva said, noting that in the forthcoming period, the FAO will continue to support Montenegrin agriculture through projects that will be implemented in the field of agriculture and fisheries.

DPM Simović thanked for the support and pointed out that it is a great honour that Montenegro participates in the work of the Council and presides over the European Regional Group.

"This gave Montenegro the opportunity to participate directly in the work of the most important working body of the FAO. Certainly, the membership of Montenegro in the FAO Council will be a good opportunity for further affirmation and improvement of Montenegrin agriculture, as well as its better promotion at the international level. Participation in the work of the Council also means a great obligation of Montenegro, especially in the light of the activities carried out by the FAO in the region," Simović said.

The Deputy Prime Minister expressed Montenegro's readiness to take an active role in the implementation of FAO projects in the region of Southeast Europe. Simović emphasised the importance of the regional approach and joint and concrete projects that will have their application in practice. He also stressed the need to develop concrete projects related to the negative impacts of climate change on the agriculture sector.

Permanent Representative of Montenegro to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation Aleksandar Drljević also attended the meeting.

Deputy Prime Minister will address the participants at the 40th session of the FAO Conference in Rome. He will speak about achieving the goals of the Sustainable Development Agenda 2030. On the sidelines of the meeting, Simović will have several bilateral meeting, among others, with the Minister of Rural Affairs of Estonia Tarmo Tamm.