The IGAD Executive Secretary, H.E. Eng Mahmoud Maalim gave his first exclusive broadcast interview on Tuesday 12th August 2008. The interview conducted by a renowned Kenyan broadcast journalist, Beatrice Marshall of KTN [Kenya Television Network] focused on the role of the regional organization in food security, infrastructure development, and peace and security in the Horn of Africa.

With the lush gardens of the Fairview Country Hotel providing a beautiful backdrop, Eng Maalim said the IGAD was in the process of transforming itself to proactively and practically address the many challenges of the region, besides ensuring peace and security in the member states. He pointed out that food security and infrastructure development would be high on his agenda.

“We will endeavour to harmonize our policies to encourage movement of our people, goods and services”, he stated citing the importance of regional crop and livestock market access and cooperation to fight human and animal diseases.