On 18-19 March, UNECE Executive Secretary Tatiana Molcean traveled to Rome to meet with top officials from the Italian government and discuss ways to enhance development cooperation in various areas. She also engaged in talks with representatives from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Food Programme (WFP). During her meeting with Federico Eichberg, Chef de Cabinet at the Ministry of Enterprise and Made in Italy, Ms. Molcean emphasized the importance of UNECE’s tools for traceability along value chains, which have been successfully used with blockchain and other innovative technologies in the Italian garment and footwear industry. Discussions also covered topics such as corporate sustainability reporting, due diligence, and digital product passports. The Executive Secretary also discussed gender equality and the promotion of women entrepreneurship and leadership with Edoardo Rixi, Deputy Minister of Transport and Infrastructure. She encouraged Italy to join the Advisory Board of the UN Road Safety Fund hosted by UNECE. Ms. Molcean also met with Davide La Cecilia, Special Envoy for the Reconstruction of Ukraine, and discussed preparations for the Ukraine Recovery Conference 2025 in Rome, with a focus on sustainability, resilience, and inclusivity. She expressed her appreciation for Italy’s leadership and expected support for the UNECE-led UN4UkrainianCities project, which aims to rebuild urban centers in Ukraine. The Executive Secretary also had a meeting with Director General Qu Dongyu at the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to discuss the longstanding cooperation between UNECE and FAO on forests and the contribution of UNECE to food systems sustainability. In addition, she had discussions with Carl Skau, Deputy Executive Director of the World Food Programme (WFP), and highlighted the strategic alignment of UNECE’s expertise in sustainable development and trade facilitation with WFP’s mission in food security and humanitarian aid.
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