FOREIGN MINISTER VISITING ITALY

Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, /MONTSAME/ The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Mongolia G.Zandanshatar has met with He Changchui, Assistant Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome city, Italy.
At the meeting, they shared views on the cooperation between Mongolia and the FAO. Mr. Changchui officially reported that the FAO made a decision to implement a project of USD 40 million in the sector of vegetable and animal husbandry in Mongolia.
The Foreign Minister held meeting with Mrs. Yukiko Omura, the Vice President of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and discussed matters on guarantee of foods in Mongolia and on co-implementation of the "Mongolian livestock" program. Omura said the IFAD decided to grant USD 11.4 million from December this year for the program on improvement of pasture management to be realized in 2010-2012. In response, Mr. Zandanshatar thanked the FAO and the IFAD for assistance of USD 1.7 million and MNT 400 million to many provinces which have been suffering from difficulties of winter and spring.
G.Zandanshatar also met with R. Graziano, the Secretary-General of Italy's Micro-Credit Lending Grant Committee. They spoke about a possibility for Mongolian private sector to receive micro-loans.
During the visit to Italy, G.Zandanshatar exchanged views with Gianni Alemanno, Mayor of Rome city on collaboration between the capital cities of the countries.
The visit of the Foreign Minister is continuing.
B.Khuder