Colombo, Sri Lanka - Our Head of Partnerships, Amy Melissa Chua presents the Private Sector Statement at the FAO Regional Conference for Asia and the Pacific in Colombo, Sri Lanka.
As a neutral convener of more than 690 diverse partners spanning public, private, and civil society sectors, Grow Asia was tasked with gathering perspectives from the private sector, which play a crucial role in helping to achieve the UN Sustainable Development Goals by 2030. We collaborated with our Business Council to gather insights from 16 industry associations (representing large and small companies) and 31 major agribusinesses. Our private sector partners emphasized two priorities for the FAO in Asia: Scaling up innovation in both technology and finance for a low-carbon economy; and establishing efficient public-private pathways for widespread adoption. Together, these two pillars are indispensable for the transformation of agri-food systems.
The opening session is chaired by Sri Lanka’s Agriculture and Plantation Industries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera. Speakers include Mohammad Abdus Shahid, Bangladesh Minister of Agriculture and chair of the last regional conference, Kalaveti Vodo Ravu, Minister for Forests and Fisheries of Fiji, reporting on the Third Joint FAO and Pacific Community (SPC) Ministers for Agriculture and Forestry Meeting; Hans Hoogeveen, Independent Chairperson of the FAO Council; Nosipho Nausca-Jean, Chairperson of the Committee on World Food Security (CFS); Anuka Vimukthi De Silva from the Movement for Land and Agricultural Reform (MONLAR) representing civil society groups; and Amy Melissa Chua, Head of Partnerships, Grow Asia, presenting a private sector perspective.