Caracas, Venezuela–Progress has been made on the Action Plan for Eradication of Hunger and Poverty in the Economic Zone of Petrocaribe.Representatives from 17 Caribbean and Central American countries met in Caracas on April 3 and 4 to define specific intervention initiatives for each country.The meeting was opened by the vice-president for Social Areas of Venezuela, Hector Rodriguez, who emphasized on the importance of Petrocaribe for the region
"This is a proposal that seeks equality based on diversity," he said."We have the strategic goal of making the Caribbean a hunger free region."The Executive Secretariat of Petrocaribe, with technical assistance from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), will evaluate the proposals based on guidelines set out in the Action Plan which were approved by all the countries in the region.Selected projects will receive implementation funding from Petrocaribe.
President of PDV Caribe and ALBA executive secretary, Bernardo Alvarez, emphasized the efficient implementation of the Action Plan."We must congratulate ourselves for the important progress we have made in implementing the Action Plan for the Eradication of Hunger and Poverty," he said.Alvarez highlighted the leadership of FAO director general Jos� Graziano da Silva, in the creation of this regional initiative.
He said: "This would not be possible without the inspiration of the Director General of FAO, who was the creator of the Zero Hunger programme in Brazil during the government of President Lula."Ra�l Ben�tez FAO regional representative for Latin America and the Caribbean described the action plan as an example for everyone."This initiative is a concrete response to the 47 million people who still suffer hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean," he said.
"Venezuela is not only an example of a country that managed to defeat undernourishment in its territory, but it is an example of solidarity with an entire region".Executive Secretary of Petrocaribe, Asdrubal Chavez, expressed optimism about the results of the Action Plan stating: "We could even reach our goals sooner than planned."
The Action Plan is part of the priorities of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (Celec) and the Hunger-Free Latin America and the Caribbean Initiative, a commitment by 33 countries of the region to eradicate malnutrition by 2025. Its aim is to strengthen the food and nutrition security of member states of the Petrocaribe and ALBA Economic Zone through national and regional hunger eradication projects.