Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia – 25 February 2025 – The Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, was received by the Secretary General of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), His Excellency Mr. Hissein Brahim Taha, to exchange views on key IOFS initiatives aimed at enhancing food security across OIC Member States.
The two sides discussions had particular emphasis on the implementation of major projects, including the establishment of the first IOFS Gene Bank in Kazakhstan. This initiative is set to become a vital asset in supporting agro-industrial projects and fostering agricultural development, especially in vulnerable regions.
Ambassador Aryn also provided an update on IOFS’s ongoing efforts to implement the Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP), highlighting the sustainable projects that are being conducted in partnership with the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA). He also underscored the Organization’s strategic priorities for 2025, giving emphasis on activities that are to address food security challenges in African Member States, especially those in the Sahel region, through the execution of the Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI). Additionally, he briefed on the process related with finalizing the draft Strategic Plan for Ensuring Food Security in OIC Member States (SPEFS), especially after the Regional Consultations of African, Arab and Asian Groups of the OIC Member States, virtually held earlier this month of February. In fact, he mentioned, consultations are underway with the State of Qatar in its capacity as the Chair of the 9th Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development (MCFSAD) for holding an in-person high-level expert meeting in Doha to finalize the draft Strategic Plan for its onward adoption by the 10th MCFSAD.
The Director General seized the opportunity to request the Secretary General to cordially mark on his calendar the gracious presence at the 7th General Assembly of IOFS, scheduled for July 2025 in Astana, Republic of Kazakhstan, to which the status of its preparations with the hosting country was highlighted.
The Secretary General, at his end, commended the IOFS for its growing engagement and reaffirmed the OIC’s commitment to supporting the organization’s initiatives, particularly in strengthening food security across African OIC Member States. In this context, he underscored the strategic importance of the proposed transport corridor linking Dakar (Senegal) to Port Sudan (Sudan), which has the potential to significantly contribute to regional economic development, improve livelihoods and serve as a vital instrument in tackling food security challenges in the region.
Both parties concluded the meeting by reaffirming their shared commitment to strengthening collaboration and ensuring the successful implementation of key projects and initiatives.
