Regional Training on “Facilitating Trade for Food Security” starts in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco

30 May 2022, Rabat, Morocco – The Food and Agriculture Organization Regional office for Near East and North Africa (FAORNE), in collaboration with the International Trade Center (ITC), inaugurated a regional training on “Facilitation Trade for Food Security”, in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco, which will be held from 30 May to 2 June 2022.

“The vulnerable food supply chains and recent shocks due to economic or natural factors, such as COVID-19 and the Ukraine Conflict have increased the importance of trade for food security in the Near East and North Africa (NENA) region. The inherent regional and country-level stressors such as the protracted conflicts, political instability and climate change add to the challenges. Therefore, it is imperative to discuss the issues related to trade facilitation for food,” said Jean-Marc Faures, FAORNE Regional Programme Leader while delivering the welcoming remarks.

The NENA region is characterized by a high-level dependency on food import, in particular of cereals, therefore a better understanding and management of the trade dynamics in imperative. At the same time, the importance of trade facilitation could not be underestimated particularly in light of various barriers, adding to the cost, due to border measures. It is therefore imperative to recognize, internalize in national policies, and optimize the role of trade and trade facilitation for food security in the NENA region. There is also a need to discuss participation and role of NENA countries in the multilateral discussions such as the WTO negotiations on agriculture and fisheries subsidies, in order to get an outcome that meets region’s aspirations.

The importance of trade, particularly for North African countries who are exporters of food as well, was underscored by Jean Senahoun, FAO Representative to the Kingdom of Morocco, while inaugurating the training.

The participants come from ministries of agriculture, trade and other relevant agencies and departments of the countries from NENA region.

Ahmad Mukhtar, FAORNE Senior Economist, mentioned that this training is designed to help the participants to better understand the linkages between trade, trade facilitation and food security and how to internalize these concepts in relevant policies and tools. It will also focus on pathways to develop and strengthen regional food value chains and ensuring resilience for the food supply chains.

Experts and speakers from FAO, International Trade Center (ITC), IFPRI and other organizations will deliver sessions and presentations in an interactive way and based on real-life case studies from the NENA region.

This training will be followed by the first in-person meeting of the “FAO Regional Network of Experts on International Trade (FAO-RNE) on 3 June 2022.