FAO dy DG due in city today

FE Report Manoj Juneja, deputy director-general (DG) of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) for operations, arrives in the city today (Friday) on a four-day visit to Bangladesh aiming at creating opportunities for further extended collaboration between Bangladesh and FAO. An Indian national Mr Juneja was appointed to his present rank last July and held a range of different positions with increasing responsibilities such as director of budget and assistant director-general in two departments since joining FAO in 1987. During his visit in Bangladesh until November 21, the FAO deputy DG will meet ministers of foreign affairs, agriculture, finance, fisheries and livestock, environment and forests, and food and disaster management. Mr Juneja will also have consultations with high level government officials, meet the United Nations staff and visit FAO field projects during his stay. In recent years, FAO's assistance to Bangladesh is globally acknowledged to have significantly enhanced the country's strategic preparations for and achievements in sustainable food security. FAO has provided support in food security, agriculture and related fields since the independence of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is also maintaining a prominent position in FAO Governance. Bangladesh is a member of FAO Council and is represented in the important FAO Programme Committee by the Economic Counsellor (Ms Sultana Afroz) of Bangladesh Embassy in Rome. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina attended the World Summit on Food Security held in Rome in 2009 and chaired an important session on climate change. With renewed global consensus for increasing investments in agriculture, FAO is a key actor in promoting support for sustainable food security for all. On November 19 he will first travel to Barguna to review activities a food security and nutrition development project for the poor, especially women and children, jointly implemented by three UN agencies - UNICEF, WFP and FAO - and funded by Spain. He will also visit the World Bank funded Emergency Cyclone Recovery and Restoration Project in Barisal that same afternoon. Mr Juneja will have a working breakfast with the UN resident coordinator and heads of UN agencies in Bangladesh on November 20. He has an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics and Political Science. He is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW), and has attained an Order of Merit of ICAEW.