Kathmandu: The Government of Nepal, in collaboration with the World Food Programme (WFP), organized the National Policy Dialogue on Food Fortification in Kathmandu on Monday, bringing together key policymakers, development partners and stakeholders to advance the country’s nutrition and food security agenda on December 15.
The event was attended by Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Anil Kumar Sinha; Secretary of the same ministry Ram Prasad Ghimire; Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Nepal Park Tae-Young; Deputy Chief of Mission at the Embassy of India Dr Rakesh Pandey; and senior officials from the National Planning Commission, Ministry of Health and Population, and Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
A key highlight of the dialogue was the official launch of the India-Nepal South-South Triangular Cooperation initiative, which aims to strengthen Nepal’s fortified rice supply chain. Addressing the gathering, WFP Representative and Country Director Riaz Lodhi reaffirmed WFP’s commitment to supporting Nepal in scaling up rice fortification nationwide by 2030. Ambassador Park also reiterated the Republic of Korea’s continued support for expanding food fortification and advancing food security initiatives in Nepal.
The programme featured thematic sessions focusing on the policy environment, supply chain optimization and the roles of various stakeholders. Participants from the private sector, youth groups and academia shared perspectives on sustainable fortification practices, consumer awareness and innovation.
Discussions underscored the importance of integrating fortified staple foods into social protection programmes, strengthening regulatory frameworks and fostering multi-stakeholder partnerships to ensure long-term impact.
