Photo : Collected

DHAKA, Aug 27, 2025 (BSS) - The inaugural session of the SAARC regional workshop titled "Fostering Regional Agricultural Trade including Fortified Foods through Harmonized Food Safety Standards in South Asia" was held today in Kathmandu, Nepal.

The three-day workshop has been jointly organised by the SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development Nepal and UNICEF South Asia Office, Nepal, said a press release received here today. 

The meeting was attended by the delegates of SAARC member states - Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The workshop aims to identify opportunities for regional harmonization of standards for fortified foods in enhancing trade and address micronutrient deficiencies effectively in the South Asia region and develop a roadmap towards regional harmonisation to ensure quality large scale food fortification programmes and a level playing field. 

In the three-day workshop, national and international speakers, panellists, agricultural experts, professionals and academia are joining. 

Dr. Govinda Prasad Sharma, Secretary (Agriculture Development), Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, Nepal graced the occasion as the chief guest. 

Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director (ARD and SDF), SAARC Secretariat, Kathmandu, Nepal, Dr Md Harunur Rashid, Director SAARC Agriculture Centre and Dr Zivai Murira, Regional Nutrition Advisor, UNICEF joined the event as the special guests. 

Prakash Kumar Sanjel, Director General, Department of Agriculture, Nepal joined the inaugural session as the chair. The Programme was coordinated and executed by Dr Md Younus Ali, Senior Programme Specialist (Livestock), SAARC Agriculture Centre, Dhaka. 
 
Around 45 participants attended the event from different SAARC Member Countries. As a Key note speaker Dr Jeevan Prabha Lama, Former Agriculture Secretary of Nepal presented a paper on Harmonization of food standards in South Asia for agricultural trade. 

The workshop is expected to conclude with a set of policy recommendations and action plans aimed at fostering regional agricultural trade.