Islamabad, June 27, 2025: Ethiopia and Italy have held talks on enhancing cooperation to engage Pakistan’s leadership in the upcoming 2nd United Nations Food Systems Summit Stocktake (UNFSS+4), scheduled to be held in Addis Ababa from July 27–29, 2025.
The summit, co-chaired by Ethiopia and Italy, aims to review progress since the first UN Food Systems Summit and galvanize global efforts to transform food systems for sustainable development and food security.
As part of the preparatory diplomatic outreach, Dr. Jemal Beker Abdula, Special Envoy and Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ethiopia, met with Marilina Armellin, Ambassador of Italy to Pakistan, at the Italian Embassy in Islamabad. The two envoys discussed a range of bilateral and multilateral priorities including trade, investment, food security, renewable energy, and regional connectivity.
Both ambassadors reaffirmed their countries’ shared commitment to transforming global food systems and advancing food security, not only globally but also within their respective regions.
Dr. Jemal briefed Ambassador Armellin on Ethiopia’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to encourage high-level participation from the Government of Pakistan in the upcoming summit. He emphasized that preparations in Addis Ababa are well underway.
“The summit will serve as a critical platform to assess progress and deepen global cooperation in building resilient and inclusive food systems,” he said.
Highlighting Ethiopia’s sustainable development initiatives, Dr. Jemal mentioned flagship programs such as the Green Legacy Initiative, the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, and the Bounty of Basket campaign, which underline the country’s commitment to green economic growth and food self-sufficiency.
Ambassador Armellin reiterated Italy’s unwavering support for the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and acknowledged Ethiopia’s significant strides in tackling climate change and promoting green growth.
“Italy remains committed to strengthening cooperation with Ethiopia, and I fully support efforts to ensure the success of UNFSS+4,” she assured.
A day prior, Ambassador Dr. Jemal also met with Mr. Mohamed Yahya, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Pakistan, to explore further avenues of cooperation in the lead-up to the summit.
