Mexico: First meeting of the National Thematic Group to be held in April

The first meeting of the recently created National Thematic Group in Mexico is scheduled to take place on 21 April, 2004. The key speaker at the first meeting will be Mr. A. Ruiz, Mexican Vice-Minister of Rural Development who will give a presentation entitled "Update of the Ideas regarding the Legal Framework and Public Policies for Rural Development".

The main objectives of the National Thematic Group will include contributing in the future of rural development and food security in Mexico through debates, analysis and an information exchange. The Group will also foster an improved coordination among participants and promotion of innovative projects and activities related to rural development and food security and an exchange of experiences regarding inter-institutional coordination of rural development policies and programs.

Mexico is one of the countries in Latin America that offers its rural population a wide array of institutional programs and services for the rural area that are currently being reviewed and assessed to guarantee efficiency. The recently decreed law for Sustainable Rural Development was built upon a more integrated rural development that takes into account the territorial dimension of development as well as the importance of non-farming activities to generate income.

For more information on the thematic group, please contact the FAO representation in Mexico: FAO-MX@fao.org