| The MoU signing ceremony between the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) was held in New York, USA. Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, Secretary General of SAARC, graced the ceremony as the guest of honour, while Dr. Johan Swinnen, Director General of IFPRI, attended as the special guest.
The event was also attended by Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director of SAC, Dhaka; Dr. Shahidur Rashid, Director of IFPRI South Asia Office, New Delhi; Dr. Purnima Menon, Senior Director of IFPRI, Washington and Dr. Teunis Van Rheenen, Director of Business Development and External Relations at IFPRI, Washington. This collaboration aimed to enhance cooperation in key areas such as agricultural research, extension services, nutrition and policy development. The Secretary General of SAARC, Ambassador Md. Golam Sarwar, expressed that the MoU between SAC and IFPRI would be highly beneficial in strengthening collaborative efforts. He added that such a partnership would play a vital role in advancing technology development and effective dissemination in agriculture and allied disciplines across the region. The Director General of IFPRI stated that cooperation in the areas of knowledge generation and management, agricultural trade, policy innovation and capacity building would be enhanced. Finally, the ceremony concluded with a set of commitments aimed at building a food-secure, resilient, and prosperous South Asia. |
