Astana, 20 July 2026 – The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) held an initial virtual technical meeting to explore opportunities for cooperation in food security and sustainable agricultural development.
The SAARC participants included Mr. Tanvir Ahmad Torophder, Director of Agriculture and Rural Development & SAARC Development Fund at the SAARC Secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal, and Dr. Md. Harunur Rashid, Director, SAARC Agriculture Centre (SAC), Dhaka, Bangladesh. Representing IOFS were Dr. Memduh Ünal, Director of the Programmes Department, and Dr. Muhammad Yousuf Khan, Advisor to the Director General, together with technical experts from both organisations.
The meeting provided an opportunity for both organisations to present their respective mandates, programmes and strategic priorities, while identifying areas of shared interest for future collaboration. Participants agreed to continue technical consultations and to identify practical areas for joint activities as a foundation for future cooperation between the two organisations.
The meeting marked the beginning of an institutional dialogue between IOFS and SAARC, establishing a framework for future collaboration in support of food security and sustainable agrifood systems across their respective Member States.
