Astana, Kazakhstan - 12 February 2025 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) virtually hosted the Arab Group Consultations for the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), bringing together senior officials from OIC Member States and representatives from relevant OIC agencies. The event aimed to gather input on national priorities, clarify the objectives of the draft OIC Strategic Plan for Food Security, and discuss strategies for its timely and effective implementation.
The Strategic Plan was developed by IOFS in collaboration with the Islamic Development Bank Group - isdb.org and the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC). It represents a coordinated effort to address food security challenges across OIC Member States through sustainable policies and collaborative frameworks.
The consultation began with an opening ceremony, which included a recitation from the Holy Qur'an, setting a tone of reverence and cooperation. Speeches followed from distinguished leaders including Dr. Masoud Almarri, Director of the Food Security Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Qatar; Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Assistant Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS); Dr. Ahmed Sengendo, Assistant Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for Economic Affairs; Mr. Atilla Karaman, Director of the Statistics and Information Department of SESRIC; and Mr. Nizar Zaied, Manager for Agriculture, Water Resources, and Rural Development at the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). All speakers emphasized the importance of the draft Strategic Plan, regional cooperation, data-driven policies, and sustainable development in addressing food security challenges across the OIC region.
The consultation session included a detailed presentation of the draft OIC Strategic Plan for Food Security (2026-2035) by Prof. Zulfiqar Ali, Director of the Programs Department at IOFS. Following the presentation, Member States engaged in dynamic discussions, providing valuable feedback and recommendations to refine the strategy.
The event concluded with an invitation for all stakeholders to participate in the upcoming in-person expert meeting in Doha, where the final aspects of the Strategic Plan for Food Security will be consolidated and refined.
