Azerbaijan, Baku, April 20 / Trend A. Hasanov /
The Azerbaijani Agriculture Ministry and the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Forestry have signed a cooperation agreement in Baku today.
The agreement has been signed by Azerbaijani Agriculture Minister Ismet Abasov and Italian Deputy Agriculture Minister Franco Braga.
The signing ceremony has been held within the 28th European Regional Conference of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the 37th session of the European Commission on Agriculture.
The agreement ensures the development of the cooperation in the field of livestock and crop production, processing of agricultural products. The possibility of establishing joint ventures is not excluded, the ministry told Trend.
The main purpose of the regional conference was to approve FAO work program and budget for 2012-2013 and to determine the priorities for 2014-2015 to develop the agriculture, forestry and fisheries.
The conference, taking place in Baku, attracted a record number of participants from 46 countries.
The FAO plays a leading role in the international fight against world food poverty. Serving both developed and developing countries, the FAO acts as a neutral forum where all countries meet to discuss agreements and conduct the discussions on policy.
The organisation helps the developing countries and those with a transitory economy to modernise and improve methods of agriculture, forestry and fisheries. FAO which was established in 1945 focuses on the development of rural areas, where 70 per cent of the world's poor people facing starvation live.
FAO includes 191 member states, two associate members and one organisation - the European Union.