Membe meets USAID Chief in New York

The Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon. Bernard Kamilius Membe has met with the Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Rajiv J. Shah, at the Double Tree by Hilton Hotel in New York City yesterday.

Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Hon Bernard Membe (R) as pictured with Boss of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), Dr. Rajiv J Shah in New York City yesterday (Thanks to Moblog)

In the meeting Membe discussed with the USAID Chief about different issues but dominant one was the implementation of the G8 Summit Declaration of May 2012, along the lines of G8’s New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition Program.

Dr. Shah expressed satisfaction in President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete’s leadership in championing for the Program.

“I hope the Government of the United States of America is ready to expand the beneficiary countries to this Program to include Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast and Mozambique,” said Dr Rajiv.

Also Dr. Shah requested Hon President Kikwete to highpoint the significance of food security and nutrition in the upcoming meeting of Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) scheduled to take place in Arusha-Tanzania from 26Th to 28Th September, 2012.

He furthermore requested the Government of Tanzania to champion the Program during the AU meetings, especially through the newly elected Chairperson of the AU, Madam Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma in order to influence many African countries to participate in the campaign.

Responding to that Minister Membe said the Tanzanian Government has prioritized agriculture agenda, sustaining agricultural productivity growth in line with the poverty alleviation with goal of achieving the Millennium Development Goals.

Membe assured Dr. Shah that he will extend the same cause to Madame Zuma as agriculture growth, poverty alleviation; food security and nutrition have always been among the top agendas for African countries.

Minister Membe in New York to address the United Nations General Assembly on behalf of President Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, President of the United Republic of Tanzania in this year’s 67Th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA -67).