Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, accompanied by chef Guy Martin and several “meilleurs ouvriers de France” (Best Craftsmen of France), visited Rungis International Wholesale Market this morning. Rungis, which is the largest wholesale market for fresh produce in the world, with a turnover of €8.5 billion, has 28,800 employees and accounts for 0.3% of French GDP.

Laurent Fabius paid tribute to the expertise of the people working in the agribusiness sector and the quality of French terroir products, which enhance our country’s image, increase its attractiveness and make a vibrant contribution to our foreign trade.

Cooperation and cultural action - Participation by Laurent Fabius, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, in the “Journées du réseau” (Network Conference) (July 17)

Laurent Fabius will participate in the “Journées du réseau” (Network Conference) at the Ministerial Conference Center on July 17 at 9:15 am. His speech will be open to the press.

These annual meetings bring together cultural and cooperation network officials stationed abroad as well as representatives of the ministry’s operators and partners. The heads of our economic departments abroad are also involved in the meetings, which will provide an opportunity to take stock, together with our partners, of the challenges facing the global diplomatic network and the concrete action of our cultural and cooperation network.

For more information, please visit: http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/le-ministere-et-son-reseau/evenements-et-actualites-du-ministere/actualites-du-ministere-des-affaires-etrangeres-et-du-developpement/article/journees-du-reseau-2015-diplomatie-globale-mode-d-emploi-10-07-15

United Nations - Development - Adoption of the Addis Ababa Action Agenda (July 15)

France welcomes the agreement reached at the third Financing for Development conference and congratulates the Ethiopian authorities who made this success possible.

Thirteen years after the Monterrey conference, the Addis Ababa Agenda provides the necessary resources for sustainable development and takes into account its economic, social and environmental aspects. It offers an illustration of international solidarity, particularly with the least advanced countries, and establishes a renewed global partnership among all actors, offering access to a broad range of financing, both public and private, traditional and innovative.

Throughout the negotiation process, development and Francophony minister Annick Girardin, who led the French delegation, supported the aim of reaching an ambitious agreement characterized by solidarity and taking into account the risks of climate disruption.

This agreement among the 193 UN member states lays the groundwork – as planned in New York this past September – for adopting new sustainable development measures. It is an important step toward a successful COP21.