Pres Ali to deliver keynote address at Int’l Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership

President Dr Irfaan Ali has a packed schedule while he is in New York for the 77th session of the United Nations, which includes delivering the keynote address at the International Forum on African-Caribbean Leadership (IFAL) in New York.
The President is scheduled to present the keynote address when IFAL holds its meeting at the New York Hilton Midtown on September 21, under the theme “Redefining Trans-Regional Cooperation for Sustainable Peace and Development”.

It is expected that the lingering effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and challenges to these countries achieving their Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), will be discussed.
The meeting is expected to attract Heads of State, Heads of relevant regional and trans-regional bodies, senior Government officials, members of civil society, key stakeholders, international development institutions, and academics.
Meanwhile, President Ali will also be at the 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), which is being held from September 13-27, 2022 in New York. While there, he will participate in a number of bilateral engagements and address several high-level events.
On Monday, President Ali is expected to chair the Education Summit Leaders’ Roundtable at the start of the high-level week of the assembly. The next day, President Ali will attend several events including a roundtable/lunch with the Americas Society/Council of Americas and a forum with the CAF Development Bank of Latin America, under the theme: “Food Security in Latin America and the Caribbean: Challenges, Strategies and Urgent Action.”
Guyana has been leading efforts in the region when it comes to food security. The Government’s focus on agriculture is down to the vision of making Guyana the bread basket of the Caribbean and reducing the regional food import bill.
Last year, President Ali declared that his Government would be pursuing an aggressive campaign to dismantle regional barriers to agricultural trade and that in the next four years, with the assistance of more diversified crops, Guyana would aim to reduce Caricom’s food import bill by 25 per cent.
Months after assuming office, President Ali had charged the Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Ministry to assess and address the hurdles related to exporting food and agricultural products to markets within the Region. As such, concerns about barriers to trade in some Caricom markets were raised with the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED) earlier this year.
President Ali will also attend the International Economic Alliance Symposium and deliver Guyana’s National Statement in the UN General Assembly Hall. Additionally, he will also attend an event hosted by the President of the United States, Joseph Biden and is expected to hold discussions with the UN Secretary General, António Guterres, among other officials.
“Since arriving in the US this week, the Guyanese Head of State attended a meeting between Caribbean leaders and the US Vice President, Kamala Harris.  The meeting was a follow-up to President Biden’s and Vice President Harris’s commitment at the recent Summit of the Americas to partner with the Caribbean to promote energy security, access to finance and food security.”
“Following that engagement, President Ali attended a protocolary meeting of the Permanent Council of the Organisation of American States (OAS) in Washington, DC, to welcome the President of the Dominican Republic, Luis Abinader Corona and to discuss concerns about his country and the region,” a statement from the Office of the President said.
Currently, President Ali is in Orlando, Florida, where he is expected to meet with members of the Guyanese diaspora, before he participates in an Interfaith Forum on September 18 in New York. He is currently joined by Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Minister Hugh Todd and Foreign Secretary Robert Persaud.