□ Gae-ho Lee, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs discussed about important issues and cooperation measures in a discussion with the executive director of WFP, secretary general of IFAD, secretary general of FAO and UAE Minister of State for Food Security at Seoul Plaza Hotel on May 13 (Monday).

 

□ In the interview with David Beasley, Secretary General of the World Food Programme (WFP) (1:30 - 2:00pm), Minister Gae-ho Lee confirmed that Korea's aid of 50,000 tons of rice in 2018 has been successfully distributed to 4 recipient countries - Yemen, Kenya, Ethiopia and Uganda - and that it has received favorable comments from local residents.
○ Also, as the Ministry repeats 50,000 tons of aid to the same 4 countries in 2019, the Minister urged WFP for support and cooperation so that our rice is effectively distributed to the most vulnerable groups and contribute to eradicate world poverty.
□ In the interview with the Secretary General of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), Gilbert Houngbo (2:30 - 3:00pm), Minister Gae-ho Lee agreed to mutually cooperate to eradicate poverty and food crisis in developing countries in cooperation between IFAD and Korean government.
□ In the interview with UAE Minister of State for Food Security, Mariam Al Mheiri (3:30 - 4:00pm), Minister Lee asked for UAE's interest and support to ensure smooth implementation of agricultural cooperation between two countries including the current smart farm.
○ Since the visit of Korea's President to UAE in March 2018, two countries promised to strengthen agricultural cooperation, and have commenced cooperation between agricultural agencies in four major fields such as smart farm, livestock care, date palm cultivation and rice cultivation.
○ Also, Minister Lee proposed to gradually seek possible cooperation measures in future agricultural sectors by building food industrial complexes, vertical farms and urban agriculture that are being implemented in UAE.