Ambassador of Tunisia shall always be a Goodwill Ambassador of CFC
10 September 2024, Amsterdam. H.E. Mr. Skander Denguezli, Ambassador of the Republic of Tunisia to the Netherlands, is seen with Managing Director Ambassador Sheikh Mohammed Belal at the Secretariat of the CFC. Ambassador Denguezli came to visit CFC for the first time upon his assumption as Ambassador of Tunisia to know more about the activities of the CFC and its impact on the ground. Ambassador Denguezli was accompanied by Ms. Haifa Ben Alaya, Counsellor of Foreign Affairs at the Embassy.
After an initial exchange of pleasantries, Ambassador Denguezli expressed his satisfaction at the state of affairs in CFC while expressing his resolve to work as a Goodwill Ambassador of CFC towards meeting CFC’s heightened demand for investment in the global south. Ambassador Denguezli was unequivocally convinced that poverty has no place in this civilized world if we respect each other as a human being.
Ambassador Denguezli shared encouraging trajectory of Tunisia towards serving the need and aspiration of their people by the incumbent government. He, however, expressed their concern for increasing climate related challenges like prolonged drought and sought help from CFC to make agriculture sustainable both for the planet and the people. Recalling very engaging and rich past between Tunisia and the Common Fund, Ambassador Denguezli wish to see more investment from CFC in Tunisia in the coming days.
Ambassador Belal stressed the importance of strengthening working relationships and partnerships with countries in the future. He also highlighted the critical need for capacity-building initiatives that extend beyond the conventional scope of the CFC's projects, particularly in light of lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ambassador Belal introduced the Agricultural Commodity Transformation (ACT) Fund, formerly known as the CIIF, which was presented at the LDC5 Conference in Doha. He outlined the CFC's strategic roadmap for poverty alleviation in Least Developed Countries (LDCs), Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDCs), and beyond. Ambassador Belal encouraged member countries, including Tunisia, to consider becoming anchor investors in the ACT Fund and to promote the initiative within the private sector.
Ambassador Denguezli reiterated Tunisia's commitment to intensifying efforts to address the challenges associated with commodity dependence. He emphasized the critical role that commodities such as olive oil and dates play in Tunisia's economy and underscored his country's dedication to implementing strategies that promote diversification, enhance value addition, and reduce vulnerability to global market fluctuations. By focusing on sustainable practices, improving market access, and fostering innovation within the commodity sector, Tunisia aims to build resilience and ensure long-term economic stability.
In response, Ambassador Belal urged Tunisia to deepen its engagement with the CFC's activities to advance their shared goal of eradicating poverty. He encouraged Ambassador Denguezli to join the CFC’s efforts to ensure fair compensation for smallholder farmers and reduce the disparity between the farm gate price and what end consumers pay. This includes exploring ways to "humanize the value chain" through digital innovations and other forward-thinking approaches.
The meeting was concluded with the mutual resolve of remaining engaged and do the necessary follow up in the days to come.