Representatives from 54 member states of the organization are expected to participate.
Preparations are underway in Dushanbe for the 35th session of the Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), which will be held for the first time in the capital of Tajikistan from 11 to 15 May 2026.
In the lead-up to the forum, a high-level briefing was held on April 20 with representatives of the diplomatic corps and international organizations.
The event was organized by the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan jointly with FAO, with the participation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Agriculture, in coordination with the ERC35 Secretariat. The briefing was chaired by Aghasi Harutyunyan, FAO Representative in Tajikistan.
Representatives of ministries and agencies, heads and staff of diplomatic missions, international organizations, and development partners accredited in the country participated. The main goal of the meeting was to coordinate organizational matters and ensure timely preparations for the upcoming conference.
Participants presented proposals and discussed measures to ensure the event was held at a high level.
Bunafsha Azimova, FAO communications specialist in Tajikistan, told Asia-Plus about this.
During the meeting, participants emphasized the importance of the conference as a platform for dialogue and cooperation in agriculture, food security, and sustainable development. It was noted that holding the forum in Dushanbe creates additional opportunities for exchanging experiences and finding joint solutions.
The need for countries in the region to join forces to address common challenges, implement innovation, and strengthen partnerships was also emphasized. Participants believe this will help increase the resilience of agriculture to modern challenges.
Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Tajikistan Kurbon Hakimzoda noted that the country is hosting the FAO Regional Conference, the organization’s highest governing body for Europe and Central Asia, for the first time.
According to him, this confirms Tajikistan’s readiness to actively participate in the development of regional agricultural policy. He emphasized that the conference will determine the development directions for agricultural and food systems over the next two years. In this regard, the participation of representatives from countries empowered to make long-term decisions is important.
The Minister also stated that Tajikistan intends to hold the event at a high level and views it as a platform for jointly finding solutions to global challenges.
Representatives of the Conference Secretariat provided practical information for participants, including registration procedures, protocol requirements, visa issues and organizational details.
Nabil Ganji, FAO Deputy Regional Representative for Europe and Central Asia and Conference Secretary, noted that ERC35 plays a vital role in shaping the future of the region’s agricultural and food systems. He stated that the conference identifies key priorities and provides a foundation for developing cooperation between countries. He emphasized that coordinated efforts will enable the development of more sustainable and inclusive agricultural and food systems.
Briefing participants reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring a high-level conference organization and called on the diplomatic community to actively participate. The event is expected to become an important platform for developing partnerships and joint solutions in the agricultural sector.
FAO Regional Conferences are the official forum where agriculture ministers and country representatives discuss key issues of food security and agricultural sector development. They set the organization’s priorities for the next two years and promote stronger regional cooperation.
Conferences are held every two years in different regions of the world. The previous session, the 34th for Europe, took place in Rome in May 2024.
The ERC35 agenda includes organizational matters, presentations by FAO leadership, and discussions of key topics—the sustainability of agricultural and food systems, agricultural financing, food security, and the impact of global factors on markets. Climate, biodiversity, land restoration, and agricultural sector development will also be addressed, along with reports from relevant commissions and plans for the next period.
Google machine translated