site.btaDeputy Agriculture Minister Georgieva Participates in 2024 UN Regional Forum on Sustainable Development

Deputy Agriculture Minister Tanya Georgieva leads the Bulgarian delegation during the two-day Regional Forum on Sustainable Development for the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) region held in Geneva, Switzerland, the Agriculture Ministry said on Thursday.

She noted that enhanced joint and coordinated action is needed for regional food systems' sustainability. 

According to her, digital innovations and applications in various sectors should be stimulated as they are a factor for sustainable growth and added value. Accelerating the implementation of digital transformation requires expanding fiscal space and improving the mobilisation of public resources. She stressed that official development aid alone cannot achieve this goal, adding that the ongoing reform of the international financial architecture is key in this regard.

Georgieva said that in the last few years food security, which is among the most important elements necessary for the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, has been globally threatened by the emergence of a number of crisis situations. "The hostilities in Ukraine, together with the prolonged negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, have caused serious disruptions in global agricultural markets. Rising inflation, energy prices and production costs are generating concerns about the competitiveness of farmers, who are the backbone of food security," she said.

Participants at the meeting had the opportunity to share policy actions that have been taken at the national level. Distinguished speakers participated in a policy debate on accelerating progress on the Sustainable Development Goals and delivering transformative solutions.