Astana, 29 October 2026 — His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), participated virtually in the 21stGeneral Assembly of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), held in Kazan, Russian Federation, on 28 October 2026.
The Director General addressed the meeting virtually and conveyed his appreciation for the invitation and delivered a statement reaffirming IOFS’s commitment to strengthening cooperation with SMIIC under the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and the Annual Coordination Meeting of OIC Institutions (ACMOI). He then underscored the importance of harmonized standards, food safety, quality assurance and halal certification in strengthening food security, facilitating intra-OIC trade and enhancing the competitiveness of agrifood value chains across Member States.
The Director General finally highlighted the complementary mandates of the IOFS and SMIIC, underscoring the importance of strengthening cooperation in capacity-building, promoting the application of OIC/SMIIC standards, and supporting Member States in developing safer, more resilient and competitive agrifood systems. He emphasized the need to translate this institutional partnership into practical, results-oriented initiatives that advance sustainable food security across the OIC geography, including through planned joint side events at the 31st UN Climate Change Conference (COP31), to be hosted by the Republic of Türkiye in Antalya in November 2026, which will provide an opportunity to highlight the links between climate action, agricultural development and food security.
