ROME, 14 Oct. - (ANA) – President Alvaro Lario of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives Narumon Pinyosinwat, of the Royal Government of Thailand signed a Host Country Agreement (HCA) for the establishment of IFAD’s first-ever Asia and the Pacific regional office in Bangkok. This strategic relocation underscores IFAD’s commitment to decentralizing its operations, moving closer to the people it serves, and strengthening its presence in the region.

 

“We are deeply grateful to the Government of Thailand for hosting IFAD's brand new regional office. Our Bangkok office is about bringing IFAD closer to the countries and rural communities we serve, strengthening the impact of our programmes and providing new opportunities for partnership and collaboration,” said Lario.

 

The new office, which will open in 2025, will serve as a hub for IFAD's operations in the Asia and the Pacific region, facilitating closer collaboration with IFAD’s Member States, regional organizations, academic institutions and civil society. It will also enhance IFAD's ability to share technical expertise and knowledge with rural communities throughout the region.

 

“We believe that the regional office in Thailand will serve as a catalyst for increased collaboration between IFAD, governments, and public and private investors, enabling us to expand our efforts to support rural communities, particularly youth and women, and promote sustainable development in the region,” said Reehana Raza, IFAD Regional Director, Asia and the Pacific. “We look forward to working closely with the Thai government and its people to address the challenges and opportunities facing rural communities in the region,” she added.

 

Since 2018, IFAD has been reforming its business model to move closer to rural communities and facilitate more impactful investments in line with Sustainable Development Goals 1 and 2.

 

The Asia and the Pacific region is key to IFAD’s mission of improving rural lives and livelihoods. Despite progress, more than half the hungry people in the world still live in Asia. To date, IFAD has invested over US$ 2.8 billion in Asia and the Pacific, more than in any other IFAD region. It has also supported more projects in Asia and the Pacific – 298 - than in any other IFAD region. The regional office will cover 26 countries: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Cambodia, China, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Kiribati, LaoPDR, the Maldives, Malaysia, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, Samoa, Sri Lanka, Solomon Islands, Thailand, Tonga, Vanuatu and Viet Nam.

 

IFAD’s investments in the region have focused on promoting gender equality, improving food security, increasing rural youth employment and strengthening climate resilience. Going forward, IFAD will continue to invest in climate-smart agriculture, digital technologies and sustainable agrifood systems for a resilient future for the region’s rural people.

 

IFAD is an international financial institution and a United Nations specialized agency. Based in Rome – the United Nations food and agriculture hub – IFAD invests in rural people, empowering them to reduce poverty, increase food security, improve nutrition and strengthen resilience. Since 1978, we have provided more than US$24 billion in grants and low-interest loans to fund projects in developing countries.   - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/14 October 2024 - - -