During the meeting, which was held at the request of the head of the Institute, Manuel Otero, the officials explored areas in which it would be possible to increase cooperation between IICA, the government of the United States of America and its specialized agencies, as well as between the hemispheric agency and the U.S. private sector.
San Jose, Costa Rica, 26 October 2018 (IICA). The Director General of IICA, Manuel Otero, welcomed the U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica, Sharon Day, to the Headquarters of the Inter-American Institute for Cooperation on Agriculture (IICA). The Director informed the Ambassador of the hemispheric agency’s priorities with respect to agricultural and rural development.
During the meeting, the officials explored areas in which it would be possible to increase cooperation between IICA, the government of the United States of America and its specialized agencies, as well as between the hemispheric agency and the U.S. private sector.
The Director General also provided Ambassador Day with copies of the book Warriors, recently edited by IICA in Spanish and English. The book compiles written pieces by prominent international figures who, from very diverse perspectives, examine the status of rural women and their real contribution to agriculture and development in rural areas.
They also visited the photography exhibition entitled “The Soul of Rurality,” which highlights the crucial role that women play in the achievement of food security. The exhibition is the result of an unprecedented partnership between IICA and Vogue magazine, which seeks to draw public attention to rural women, who are true examples of resilience and courage.
“This visit further strengthens the close ties between the government of the United States and the Institute, and puts into perspective the achievements of joint work primarily undertaken with government agencies such as the FDA. We hope to continue strengthening this work, given its importance for health and trade in the Latin American and Caribbean region,” stated Otero regarding his meeting with Ambassador Day.
Anita Katial, Regional Agricultural Counselor at the U.S. Embassy in Costa Rica; Lloyd Day, Deputy Director General of IICA; Jorge Werthein, Special Advisor to the Director General of IICA; and Karen Kleinheinz, Director of the Financial Management Division of IICA, also participated in the meeting.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture works together with IICA to bring technical specialists to Costa Rica and to the Mesoamerican region in order to build countries’ capacity for development in the field of agriculture.
Sharon Day was sworn in as U.S. Ambassador to Costa Rica on September 25, after having worked for more than 20 years for the Republican Party at the local, state, and national level, and most recently in leadership roles as Co-Chair of the Republican National Committee (RNC) and RNC Secretary. Earlier in her career, she built several businesses in the insurance and marketing industries, creating jobs for hundreds of individuals and families.
Drawing from her private-sector experience, Ambassador Day worked in the political arena to promote and strengthen small businesses and the free market system. She also championed women’s rights as a Commissioner on the Florida Commission on the Status of Women.
Ambassador Day was born and raised in Texas and has called Ft. Lauderdale, Florida home for the last 25 years.
More information:
Guido Nejamkis, Coordinator of the Institutional Communication Division of IICA
