The new Representative of the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) for Sri Lanka and the Maldives Vimlendra Sharan has assured commitment to work closely with the Maldives and strengthen cooperation between FAO and the Government of the Maldives. He made the remarks in the ceremony held to present his Letter of Credence to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Ahmed Khaleel.
During the meeting held on October 3, the FAO Country Representative and State Minister Khaleel highlighted the important role of FAO to the Maldives. The FAO Country Representative assured the commitment of FAO to work closely with the Government of the Maldives to further strengthen cooperation between the Maldives and FAO. The discussion also focused on the importance of having a consultant stationed locally to provide further assistance to the Maldives in a timely manner.
Maldives became a member of FAO in 1971 and was accredited to the FAO Representative's office in Sri Lanka in 1979. The current FAO assistance to the Maldives is geared towards strengthening food security and boosting the sustainability of rural livelihoods, with a focus on climate-smart agriculture and fisheries development.