Democratic Republic of Congo: Thematic Group takes part in round table on agriculture and the rural sector
A round table on agriculture and the rural sector organized by the Government of the Democratic Republic of Congo with the support of the Development Cooperation Ministry of Belgium was held on 19-20 March 2004, as a follow-up to the symposium on "From Emergency Humanitarian Aid to Sustainable Development and Agriculture for better food security in the Democratic Republic of Congo" organized in February 2003 by the National Thematic Group on Rural Development and Food Security in this country. (Read article published in the
March 2003 Update)
This event served as a platform to establish a strategic vision that places the rural and agriculture sectors at the base of the relaunching of the country's economy. The discussiones of the roundtable were centered around the main theme: Towards an agriculture development strategy, firm base of an economic launching.
A preparatory meeting already took place on 19 November 2003 with the participation of the ambassador of Belgium and representatives from the European Commission and the Louvain University. This meeting proposed the realization of a high level event to mobilize representatives from the World Bank, the European Commission, the Belgian and French governments, as well as FAO, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture, relevant institutions of the Congolese government (Ministries, Universities, Research Institutes, NGO's) and the Private Sector.
According to the Belgian Ambassador, this country's cooperation policy in the Democratic Republic of Congo grants greater priority to the Agricultural Development sector. This proposal gave way to the realization of the round table on agriculture and the rural sector with the participation of Ms. Louise Fresco, FAO Assistant Director General of the Agriculture Department and many other representatives from development agencies such as GTZ and USAID as well.
Download contributions made by roundtable participants:
Roundtable declaration on agriculture
Keynote speech by Ms. Martine Van Dooren (French)
Keynote speech by Ms. Louise Fresco (French)
Opening Speech by the Minister of Agriculture of the Democratic Republic of Congo (French)
FAO contribution (French)
Belgium contribution (French)
European contribution (French)
International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) contribution (French)
USAID contribution (French)
World Bank contribution (French)
African Development Bank contribution (French)
Private Sector contribution (French)
International NGOs contribution (French)
Fédération des ONG Laïques à vocation Economique du Congo (FOLECO) contribution (French)
Government synoptic contribution (French)
Report of sessions held (French)
Closing Speech (French)
For more information on the roundtable, please contact FAO representation in the Democratic Republic of Congo at:
FAO-CD@fao.org
