Myanmar hosts Regional Seminar on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems in BIMSTEC

The Regional Seminar on Food Security and Sustainable Food Systems in BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) was organized in Myanmar via videoconferencing yesterday.
It was attended by a Myanmar delegation led by Director-General U Kyaw Swe Lin of the Planning Department under the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation together with Secretary General of BIMSTEC Mr Tenzil Lekphell, representatives of BIMSTEC member countries- Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, Thailand and Sri Lanka.
At the opening ceremony, BIMSTEC Secretary-General Mr Tenzil Lekphell delivered a greeting speech.
Then, Director-General U Kyaw Swe Lin said it supported regional and global food security in overcoming the challenges in Myanmar’s economic growth including the COVID-19 pandemic. It needs to implement the policy and projects focusing on food security and sustainable food system related to global crises such as malnutrition, chronic diseases, poverty, environmental damage and climate changes.
It also should carry out for economic development and food security by implementing free trade among member countries and the governments need to make investments in basic infrastructures, research and awareness programmes and coordinate to ensure the market to ensure benefits for farmers.
He then urged the member countries to accelerate mutual relations to improve the manufacturing capacity of farmers for food security and nutrition security development mentioned in the Action Plan for Strengthening BIMSTEC Agricultural Cooperation (2023-2027) which was approved during the 2nd BIMSTEC Ministerial Meeting.
Then, the secretary-general of BIMSTEC talked about the meeting of BIMSTEC Ministers on Agriculture on 10 November 2022 to draft action plans to boost cooperation in the agriculture sector, 17 plans in five cooperation sectors, appreciation to Myanmar for implementing the Plan of Action and exchange of views on matters related to resolve the food security and sustainable food system.
The meeting also discussed the activities to establish a food security system to resist the vulnerable and sudden changes and ongoing work plans to promote the food security of BIMSTEC countries. — MNA/KTZH