The Myanmar delegation led by Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo attended FAO Conference’s 35th Special Session held in Rome of Italy from 18 to 22 November together with a large number of ministers from 189 nations. At the special session, Director-General of FAO Dr. Jaeques Diouf made an introductory speech on the occasion and inaugurated the special session.

The Minister of Economic Affairs of Finland Mr. Mauri Pekkarinem acted the special session as the Meeting Chairman and the Minister of Agriculture of Panama, the Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Sudan and the Deputy Permanent Representative of FAO to the USA as the Deputy Meeting Chairman.

Next, Minister for Agriculture and Irrigation Maj-Gen Htay Oo met Director of Italy-based FOCSIV-INGO Mr. Alberto Zamberletti at Hotel Mediterraneo in Rome and discussed matters related to agriculture development projects being implemented in Taunggyi, Kengtung and Tachilek and progress in building cyclone shelters in Bogale and Labutta.

On 19 November, the Director-General of FAO read out the reports containing the world food security and eradication of poverty and the Chairman of FAO’s Conference Committee and FAO Council Mr. Noori Naeimi on proposal of Immediate Plan of Action for FAO Renewal to be carried out from 2009 to 2011. Next, the conference approved the proposal.

Afterwards, Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo met with the Director-General of FAO and discussions were made to render assistance in undertaking rescue and rehabilitation tasks in the storm-hit regions, to construct small-scale dams and lakes and to provide assistance in the tasks for tapping underground water.

On 20 November, the special session continued and Minister Maj-Gen Htay Oo made a speech on the occasion. Next, the minister met with Head of Project FAO Dr Roberto Samanez and discussed assistance rendered to Myanmar from UAE for boosting food production. And he met with Vice-Chairman of IFAD of Rome Mr. Kanay Nwanze to discuss rural development tasks.

On 21 November, the minister met with Deputy Executive Director Mr. John Powell of WFP and arrived back to Nay Pyi Taw on 23 November morning.