ICC (Independent Chairperson) and members of the Council,

Excellencies,

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Dear Colleagues,

THANK YOU all for you to have been finished the Council as usually as ICC did.

As FAO Director-General I will continue working with all of you for the Renaissance of FAO.

I said many times that we will continue to strive for excellence, as we provide the answers and solutions that benefit farmers, consumers and our history, and transform global agrifood systems for a better future.

We, for five and a half years, have been achieving a lot, and 32 months remain to do more and better, together.

FAO’s history was, has been written, and will be written by people and Members.

Life is short as Rabindranath Tagore, the first Asian Noble Laureate in literature, said that eternal devotion is the life of truth, it is the perfect of our life perfect.

Let us unite as ONE FAO focused on providing service to the world’s farmers and consumers, ensuring global transformative development, and continued support for the most vulnerable.

Let us continue to embrace innovation, strengthen internal management governance, and improve delivery, accountability and transparency – three dimensions.

I firmly believe we can continue to build an excellent and professional FAO, fit for purpose, in line with our mandate.

Moving forward, the Organization will continue enhancing its strategic engagement with all partners, jumping out of the box, in recognition of our comparable advantage for the acceleration of the SDGs, especially SDG1 and 2.

We will continue to speed up on the implementation of the FAO Strategic Framework 2022-31 and the Four Betters: better production, better nutrition, a better environment and a better life – leaving no one behind.

Thank you to those that have traveled from far to be with us during this week.

I wish you all the best.

Thank you.