FAO Regional Office for the Near East (RNE) elected Egypt to chair the group during 2016. 

The group's first meeting was held under the chairmanship of Egypt's Ambassador in Rome and its permanent delegate to UN Amr Helmy and in the presence of FAO Director General José Graziano da Silva. 

Helmy underlined the group's keenness on boosting cooperation with the international organization in the various vital causes, including implementing sustainable development goals (SDGs) and preparing for the Regional Conference for the Near East (NERC), which is scheduled to be held in April, according to a statement distributed by the Foreign Ministry on Thursday. 

The UN, its bodies and specialized agencies have succeeded in attaining progress in the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as the abject poverty rates fell significantly, he added. 

Da Silva, for his part, welcomed Egypt's chairmanship of this group, adding that the organization is looking forward to cooperating with Egypt during the current year to attain the strategic goals of the organization.

Source: MENA