The meeting hosted by the Academic Relations and International Affairs of AREEO on Wednesday, 20th of May 2020, and the FAO representative to the Islamic Republic of Iran, Mr. Gerold Bödeker, attended to discuss several bilateral cooperation issues.

Dr. Valinassab, Director General of Academic Relations and International Affairs of AREEO welcomed Mr. Gerold Bödeker‎ and his accompanied team members and indicated several topics for bilateral cooperation. In this meeting, Dr. Asadi Rahmani, Director of Soil and Water Research Institute (SWRI), firstly appreciated the opportunity for having the meeting with FAO representative and asked for collaborations between FAO and SWRI to co-author some published English books of FAO and translating these books to Farsi to make them accessible for Farsi-speaking stakeholders in Iran and some neighboring countries esp. Afghanistan.  Mr. Bödeker expressed their interests for this cooperation and highlighted to do related administrative works with FAO Headquarter-Rome to make this publication possible.

In this meeting, furthermore, representatives from Soil Conservation and Watershed Management Research Institute (SCWMRI), Dr. Sharifi, Dr. Ghribreza and Dr Kolahchi, presented a glance from current research projects at SCWMRI. Two joint projects between FAO, IAEA and SCWMRI were highlighted and some ideas were exchanged between Mr. Bödeker ‎and SCWMRI representatives. In addition, several topics for technical cooperation were proposed and discussed for cooperation in near future.

Finally, Dr. Valinassab wrapped up the meeting and underlined that all discussed topics in this meeting will be officially communicated to FAO office in Iran.