Ministerial meeting: AMAF and ASEAN+3 Ministerial Meeting held

The Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Tin Htut Oo attended the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and 21st ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry online on Wednesday.

During the meeting, the Union Minister discussed the major challenges of farmers due to the high price and cost of chemical fertilizers during the outbreak of COVID-19 and pledged that Myanmar will actively participate in the processes of cooperation between ASEAN and the three countries to facilitate the trade routes.

The pre-coordination meetings of superior officials for the 43rd ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry (AMAF) and 21st ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry were held on 26 and 27 October online and presided by Indonesia. Myanmar delegation led by Director-General U Kyaw Swe Linn of the Planning Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation attended the meetings.

During the 43rd AMAF, the ministers focused on the implementation of ASEAN multilateral framework, techniques and experiences for economic recovery, cooperation work in food, implementation of policy frameworks regarding the cooperation in agriculture and forestry sectors among ASEAN, instructions drafted for agriculture, livestock, marine and forestry sectors in 2021, approval of ministers for nine points and 27 directives for agriculture, livestock, marine and forestry sectors to be implemented in 2022, and other cooperation efforts in respective projects with ASEAN dialogue partners and partner countries.

Next, the leaders approved and announced the joint statement of the 43rd AMAF.  Then, the leaders announced the joint statement of the 21st ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry. Laos will host the 44th AMAF and 22nd ASEAN Plus Three Ministerial Meeting on Agriculture and Forestry in 2022.