Cairo, May 06 (QNA) - The State of Qatar participated in the 4th Arab Region Food Systems Transformation Meeting, which kicked-off Wednesday at the headquarters of the Arab League's General Secretariat in Cairo, in cooperation and partnership with the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub, FAO, and the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).

The State of Qatar was represented by a delegation from its Permanent Mission to the Arab League, headed by Dr. Issa Salem Al Kuwari.

The two-day meeting aims to support the exchange of expertise, strengthen cooperation frameworks and partnerships with regional and international organizations, stimulate investments, and link national priorities with available funding opportunities, with the participation of regional offices of a number of UN agencies, including the United Nations Development Program, the World Health Organization, the World Food Program, and the International Fund for Agricultural Development, along with other partners.

The meeting is held in light of the food security challenges facing the Arab region, as well as in the context of ongoing international efforts since the 2021 UN Food Systems Summit, which aim to accelerate the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals through an integrated approach to food systems.

In this context, HE Assistant Secretary-General and Head of the Arab League's Economic Affairs Sector Ambassador Dr. Ali bin Ibrahim Al Malki said that this is the first time that the Arab League has hosted and organized this meeting, especially in light of the regional conditions that the region is going through and the impact on global supply chains, particularly since the Arab Gulf States are among the largest producers of fertilizers in the world, which greatly affects global food security.

His Excellency noted that the meeting is expected to result in the issuance of a regional document for the transformation of food systems in Arab countries, in line with international trends, in addition to launching joint partnerships and initiatives in the areas of finance, innovation and related policies. (QNA)