Following on from Kenya’s Chairmanship, the International Grains Council has appointed Ms. Anita Katial, USDA Foreign Agricultural Service Agricultural Counselor for the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland at the U.S. Embassy in London, as Chairperson for 2023/24.
During its tenure, the United States of America (U.S) is particularly interested in working with the Secretariat and IGC members to further develop information and transparency on the global grains, oilseeds, rice and pulses markets, as sound information on trade flows supports the policy decision-making process and enhances the resilience of global food security. This will include creating a biodiesel dashboard and increasing the provision of real time information on the movement of grains. An emphasis will also be put on the importance of open markets and attracting new members.
The United States will host the 59th IGC Council Session and a Grains Forum on logistics and infrastructure in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, 23-24 January 2024.
On her appointment, Ms. Katial said, “IGC is rightly held in high regard for the work it does promoting expansion, openness, and fairness in the grains sector; supporting and improving international cooperation in grains trade; and contributing to grain market stability and world food security. I look forward to partnering with the incoming Vice Chair, Hamed Oussama Salhi from Algeria, and the IGC team to deliver on this mission, add important tools and applications that will support its members, while also working to promote the expansion of IGC’s member base.”