Latest news with #MinaRizk
Al-Ahram Weekly
4 hours ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
Egypt wins first-ever FAO council chairmanship with historic election of Mina Rizk - Foreign Affairs
In a historic first since the founding of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in 1945, Egypt has secured the chairmanship of the organization's executive council. The election of Egypt's Deputy Permanent Representative to the FAO, Mina Rizk, marks a significant diplomatic milestone. It comes after a highly competitive vote against other candidates, including ministers and senior officials. The Egyptian nominee was unanimously elected during the FAO Conference's general session on Thursday for a four-year term, following a rigorous race against four other candidates from across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas. According to Egypt's Ambassador to Italy, Bassam Rady, this marks the first time an Egyptian representative has assumed this senior leadership role. At just 38 years old, Rizk is also the youngest person to have ever led the council. He said that the embassy led the nomination and diplomatic campaign, positioning the candidacy as part of the country's broader effort to empower young professionals and enhance Egypt's role in strategic international forums. The state also aims to equip future generations of Egyptian diplomats through hands-on international experience, building a strong, capable cadre that will drive the Ministry of Foreign Affairs forward, Rady said. He noted that Egypt's successful bid for the FAO Council presidency was also the result of months of focused diplomatic work by the Egyptian Embassy in Rome. These efforts aimed to showcase the strength of Egypt's candidate and highlight the country's readiness to lead the council at this critical time, the ambassador noted. This comes amid rising global attention to issues of food security, water, agriculture, and irrigation—sectors that are a top priority for Egypt. These efforts align with Egypt's broader national development strategy, which includes major projects in the food security and agricultural sectors, Rady emphasized. He explained that the FAO Executive Council is the organization's main governing body, responsible for shaping its policies, comprising approximately 25 per cent of its member states, and is elected for three-year terms. According to Rady, Egypt also chairs the FAO's Finance Committee, while the Egyptian Central Auditing Organization has been selected to conduct the organization's legal and financial audits. Additionally, the Egyptian Food Bank was awarded the FAO Partnership Award for this year, recognizing its outstanding cooperation with FAO. The FAO also plans to hold its annual international conference for its regional offices in Egypt's New Administrative Capital later this year. The FAO, a United Nations (UN) agency founded in 1945, aims to lead global efforts in eradicating hunger and improving food security. It supports sustainable agriculture, fisheries, and rural development while addressing issues like climate change, water scarcity, and nutrition through international cooperation and policy guidance. Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
CairoScene
a day ago
- Politics
- CairoScene
Egypt Becomes First Arab Nation to Chair FAO Council
Egypt becomes the first Arab country to hold the Independent Chairperson position at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization Council. Jul 04, 2025 Egyptian diplomat Mina Rizk has been elected as the Independent Chairperson of the Council of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the first Arab official to assume the post since the agency was founded in 1945. The election took place during the FAO's 44th session in Rome, where Egypt also secured a seat on the General Committee of the FAO Conference. The role, held for a renewable one-year term, includes guiding consensus on strategic policies, programme priorities, and budgetary decisions within the Council. According to the Egyptian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rizk's election reflects Egypt's expanding role in multilateral governance related to agriculture, sustainability, and food systems. It aligns with the country's broader agenda of increasing influence within global development institutions. The FAO Council, comprising 49 regional member countries, acts as the organisation's executive arm. As Independent Chairperson, Rizk will oversee high-level discussions on critical issues such as climate resilience, food insecurity, and sustainable agricultural development.
