Yang Berhormat Dato Seri Setia Awang Haji Ali bin Apong, Minister of Primary Resources and Tourism, Brunei Darussalam attended The Forty Third Meeting of The ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry (43rd AMAF) and the 21st Meeting of the ASEAN Ministers on Agriculture and Forestry Plus Three (21st AMAF+3) via video conference on Wednesday, 27th October 2021. The 43rd AMAF Meeting and 21st AMAF+ 3 Meeting was chaired by H.E. Dr. H Syahrul Yasin Limpo, Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Indonesia.
During the 43rd AMAF meeting, the ASEAN ministers discussed the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic to the food, agriculture and forestry sectors and agreed that agriculture is one of the key sectors severely affected by the pandemic Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak. The Meeting agreed to exert efforts in the implementation of recovery measures, to ensure continuous food supplies and the functioning of business activities and services to the food and agricultural systems.
The meeting also discussed the progress, achievements and recommendations of the Food, Agriculture and Forestry Cooperation in 2020-2021 in particular the priority actions under the ASEAN Integrated Food Security (AIFS) Framework and Strategic Plan of Action on ASEAN Food Security (SPA-FS) 2021-2025 in order to ensure long-term food security and nutrition, and to improve the livelihoods of farmers in the region, especially in facing future challenges. The meeting was pleased to note that the ASEAN Framework to support Food, Agriculture and Forestry Small Producers, Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (MSMEs) to Improve Product Quality to Meet Regional/International Standards and Ensure Competitiveness, has been completed, which is a key deliverable of Brunei Darussalam’s chairmanship in 2021.
During the 21st AMAF+3, Ministers were pleased with the progress made in ASEAN + 3 Cooperation Strategies on Food, Agriculture and Forestry (2016-2025) in strategic areas, such as, strengthening food security, biomass energy development, sustainable forest management, climate change mitigation and adaptation, strengthening of information and knowledge networking and exchange, utilizing digital technologies, and strengthening collaboration on research and development. Ministers expressed their appreciation to the Plus Three countries for their continuous support in advancing cooperation in these strategic areas.
Also present during the meetings were the Permanent Secretary, Deputy Permanent Secretaries and Senior Officers from the Ministry of Primary Resources and Tourism, Department of Agriculture and Agrifood, Department of Fisheries, Department of Forestry and Brunei Darussalam Food Authority.
