The APTERR Secretariat on 21 December 2022 attended the handover ceremony of 1,000 MT of rice contribution by Japan and the Republic of Korea (ROK) through Tier 3 programme to safeguard food security in Lao PDR.
There were a number of distinguished representatives from relevant organisations and local media attending this ceremony; especially Mr. Thongphath Vongmany, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of Lao PDR, Mr. Leepao Yang, Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Welfare of Lao PDR, Mr. Taira MATSUMOTO, Director-General for Crop Production Policy Department and APTERR Council member from the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Japan, Mr. Junya NAKANO, Minister, Deputy Chief of Mission, the Embassy of Japan in the Lao PDR, Ms. JUNG Jiyang, First Secretary from the Embassy of the ROK in Lao PDR and Mr. Marc Sauveur, Head of Programme, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP).
Dr. Choomjet Karnjanakesorn, General Manager of the APTERR Secretariat, expressed his heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to the Governments of Lao PDR, Japan and the ROK as well as the WFP for close cooperation to ensure food security in Lao PDR. The 1,000-MT rice consisting of 300 MT from Japan and 700 MT from the ROK will be distributed to assist 216,355 people affected by floods and landslides brought on by storms and typhoons in 13 provinces of Lao PDR, namely Phongsaly, Oudomxay, Luangprabang, Xiengkhouang, Huaphanh, Xayaboury, Vientiane, Savannakhet, Salavan, Champasak, Sekong, Attapue, and Vientiane Capital.
Over the decade, the APTERR has firmly served as an intergovernmental organisation providing emergency rice assistance in the ASEAN Plus Three region. The APTERR Secretariat together with the APTERR member countries commits to continually improve our mechanism to become more efficient and effective in strengthening food security and achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in the future.
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