ECONOMIC IDEAL – Rome, Feb 15, IRNA – The 42nd annual Governing Council meeting of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) attended by Iran opened in Rome, Italy on Thursday.
Director General of Foreign Ministry’s Environment and Sustainable Development International Affairs Ali Mohammad Mousavi is representing Iran in the two-day meeting dubbed ‘Innovations and entrepreneurial initiatives in the rural world’ at the head of Iran's delegation.
The Iranian delegation is attending the event to explore ways of promoting cooperation and using the fund’s facilities under special conditions.
Pope Francis addressed the opening ceremony of the 42nd annual Governing Council meeting of IFAD, complaining that the rich in the world are getting richer and the poor are getting poorer day by day.
Pope Francis called for determination in the fight against poverty and hunger, encouraging the international community, and those who have the resources, not to shy away from their responsibilities, but to seek “concrete and real solutions”. He also confirmed the commitment of the Holy See to promoting similar initiatives.
Finally, Pope Francis refererred to the theme of this year’s IFAD Governing Council session: ‘Innovations and entrepreneurial initiatives in the rural world’. While it is important to invest in innovation, business models and production efficiency, he said, we must also promote ‘science with a conscience’, putting technology at the service of the poor.
“New technologies should not be opposed to local cultures and traditional knowledge”, said the Pope, “but should complement them and act in synergy with them”.
IFAD is the United Nations Agency that works to eradicate poverty and hunger in remote areas of developing countries. Together with local governments, the Agency develops and finances projects aimed at helping rural people to help themselves.
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