Friday 03 September 2010 Government 2.0: The Road Ahead
Delhi to host first global forum on agro-industries

India will host the first global conference on agro-industries, to be held in New Delhi from April 8-11, 2008, aimed at promoting the importance of agro-industries for economic development and poverty reduction.

Rome: India will host the first global conference on agro-industries, to be held in New Delhi from April 8-11, 2008, aimed at promoting the importance of agro-industries for economic development and poverty reduction.<!--more-->

The Global Agro-Industries Forum (GAIF), that expects participation of nearly 500 senior representatives from the agro-industry, governments, technical and financing institutions, civil society and UN agencies will discuss the potential of agro-industries and the challenges being faced world over.

The conference is being jointly organised by Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO) and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), in collaboration with the Government of India.

While rapid globalisation, market liberalisation, and urbanisation have created new opportunities for countries to trade agricultural and food products, they have also created challenges and increased risks.

According to FAO, countries with inefficient agro-industries are likely to be left behind those with modern and efficient agro-industries.

While high-income countries add, on an average, US $180 of value by processing one tonne of agricultural products, developing countries generate only US $40 of value per tonne, it said.

Increasing the market opportunities particularly for small-scale producers in rural areas, by improving their production, processing and marketing capabilities, will be one of the main issues of the conference.

FAO further stated that delivering better products at lower prices could be beneficial for poor consumers and could also create employment opportunities.

The forum will also encourage dialogue between the private and public sector in order to foster partnerships for developing competitive agro-industries.

The four-day conference would be inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Dr Manmohan Singh, together with FAO Director General Jacques Diouf, UNIDO Director General Kandeh K Yumkella and IFAD President Lennart Bage.
—iGovernment Bureau

Why is it still difficult for developing conutries like Uganda to acquire technoloies to add value to her agricultural products before exporting to the world market? And yet there is the talk of goblistion, partenship both at national and international. Could it be due to lack of commitment,will,or this yet another polly to keep the status quo and the divide of develop and under develop countries

As a prelude to this Forum, an e-forum is on-going. We invite you to make your contributions to discussions by visiting the website: http://www.gaif08.org/blog

Thank you,

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