The 36th Asia and Pacific Regional Conference (APRC36) of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations begins today for the first time in the country.
"The four-day conference will start on March 8 and end on March 11", a press release quoted Agriculture Minister Dr Muhammad Abdur Razzaque as he said at
a view-exchange meeting with journalists at his ministry office in the secretariat in the capital.
A total of 42 delegates, including prime minister, minister and state minister levels, from 43 member countries in the region will join the conference, the minister said.
Besides, about 900 people from the member states, FAO director general, representatives of various UN bodies, development partners, NGOs and civil society have registered, which is the highest record of participants in the history of the conference, Razzaque added.
He said the APRC36 is an important conference while Bangladesh is going to host such a conference for the first time where delegates, including
agriculture ministers and secretaries from 46 member countries of the Asia and Pacific region, FAO director general and representatives from international organizations will be present.
"This conference will bring a rare honour to Bangladesh and will play an important role in Bangladesh's agriculture," Razzaque said.
According to the release, the main session or plenary session of the conference will be held at InterContinental Dhaka and the opening ceremony,
cultural events and country showcasing will be held at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre (BICC) in the city.
The senior official or agriculture secretary-level and senior government officials meetings will be held in the first two days (March 8-9) while the
minister or agriculture minister-level meetings will be held in the last two days (March 10-11).
The inaugural function of the minister-level meeting or conference will be held on Thursday at the BICC. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina will virtually join the inaugural function as the chief guest.
Alongside the main event, there will be 17 exhibition stalls of the agriculture ministry, food ministry and fisheries and livestock ministry at
the InterContinental Dhaka and the BICC. Besides, a cultural event will be held at the BICC on March 9. FAO director general will call on the President on March 9 and the Prime Minister on March 13.
