The inaugural session of the SAARC regional consultation workshop titled “Fostering Regional Agricultural Trade including Fortified Foods through Harmonized Food Safety Standards in South Asia” was held on 27 August 2025 in Kathmandu, Nepal.
The three-day workshop is jointly organized by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, and the UNICEF Regional Office for South Asia. Delegates from six SAARC Member States namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka are participating in the event.
The workshop aims to identify opportunities for regional harmonization of standards for fortified foods to enhance trade and effectively address micronutrient deficiencies in South Asia. It also seeks to develop a roadmap for regional harmonization to ensure the quality and scale of food fortification programmes. Over the course of three days, national and international experts, panellists, agricultural professionals, and academics will share their insights.
Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Government of Nepal, graced the inaugural session as the Chief Guest. Special Guests included Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF), SAARC Secretariat; Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director, SAARC Agriculture Centre; Dr. Zivai Murira, Regional Nutrition Advisor, UNICEF, ROSA and Dr. Md. Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock), SAC. Prakash Kumar Sanjel, Director General, Department of Agriculture, Nepal chaired the session.
Around 45 participants from different SAARC Member States attended the event. As the keynote speaker, Dr. Jeevan Prabha Lama, Former Agriculture Secretary of Nepal, presented a paper on the Harmonization of Food Standards in South Asia for Agricultural Trade.
The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of policy recommendations and joint action plans aimed at fostering regional agricultural trade and strengthening food fortification initiatives across South Asia.