Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys has announced that Ireland will host the 13th OECD international Rural Development Conference in 2022.
The conference will bring more than 250 delegates including ministers, policymakers and practitioners from right across the OECD region to Ireland to consider the theme of ‘Building Sustainable, Resilient and Thriving Rural Places’.
It is the first time that Ireland has hosted such a conference.
Sustainable and inclusive rural development
Announcing the conference, Minister Humphreys said:
“Ireland is fully committed to sustainable and inclusive rural development and hosting this significant international Conference next year is a further demonstration of Ireland’s leadership in this area.
“The publication of ‘Our Rural Future’ earlier this year was a milestone moment for rural development in Ireland. It situates rural development as being central to our national economic, social and environmental well-being.
“This conference is an opportunity for Ireland to host discussions between OECD members on how to advance our shared ambitions for rural areas, sharing Ireland’s experience and learning from others across the OECD region.”
Welcoming Ireland’s decision to host the conference, the deputy secretary general of the OECD Yoshiki Takeuchi said that it is “important to ensure that all people and places, including rural regions, benefit from the recovery”.
“The conference is a unique forum for policymakers to engage in dialogue and exchange best practices,” Takeuchi added.
More details about the conference, including registration-related information, will be available early in 2022.
The event is intended to be held in person subject to prevailing public health guidelines.
The OECD – Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development – is an intergovernmental economic organisation with 38 member countries, founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade.