The State of Qatar participated in an International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) meeting held Monday to intensify the Fund's efforts and its participation in comprehensive and sustainable rural transformation in the Arab region.

HE Ambassador of the State of Qatar to the Republic of Italy and IFAD's Governor and the permanent representative of the state to the United Nations agencies in Rome Abdulaziz bin Ahmed Al Maliki represented the State of Qatar in the meeting.

In a speech delivered during the opening session of the Council's meetings, HE Qatar's Ambassador to Italy offered condolences on the death of the late Amir HH Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, and praised his role, dedication and wisdom in supporting development, stability and peace, not only in the Arab region, but in the whole world.

Al-Maliki referred to the role of the State of Qatar in establishing the International Fund for Agricultural Development and supporting its policies and programs, He stressed the importance for the fund to develop mechanisms with the participation of all partners in the Arab region to confront the effects of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) especially in light of the fragile conditions, unemployment, water scarcity, lack of investment in the agricultural sector, climate change, conflicts, migration. All of these factors contribute significantly to the severity of food shortages, poverty and low agricultural food production, on which most Arab countries depends on.