Cairo, Egypt | 14 October 2025 — During the official visit of H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) to Cairo, bilateral meetings were held with H.E. Prof. Dr. Hani Sewilam, Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation, and H.E. Mr. Alaa El-Din Farouk Zaky El-Sayyed, Minister of Agriculture and Land Reclamation of the Arab Republic of Egypt.
Discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in sustainable water management, agricultural modernization, and climate-resilient food systems. H.E. Ambassador Aryn commended Egypt’s leadership in hosting Cairo Water Week and its pioneering experience in water-saving irrigation, reuse systems, and agricultural innovation, which serve as valuable models for OIC Member States.
During the meeting with H.E. Minister Sewilam, the sides discussed Egypt’s national water strategy and challenges posed by growing water scarcity, emphasizing the need for innovative approaches such as digital irrigation monitoring, wastewater reuse, and drought-resilient water governance. IOFS expressed readiness to work with the Ministry and the Regional Center for Water Resources and Irrigation to deliver regional capacity-building programs and pilot initiatives.
In his meeting with H.E. Minister of Agriculture, Ambassador Aryn highlighted IOFS’s flagship programs on strategic crops, sustainable water management, and climate-smart agriculture. The discussion also emphasized IOFS’s active cooperation with African Member States, particularly through initiatives that strengthen seed systems, promote sustainable fertilizer use, and enhance women’s participation in agri-food value chains. Both sides expressed interest in developing joint projects and capacity-building initiatives, while reaffirming Egypt’s pivotal role and active engagement in IOFS regional platforms and initiatives.
The discussions concluded with a shared commitment to translate dialogue into practical collaboration, positioning Egypt as a key partner in advancing food and water security across the OIC region.
