Tunis, Tunisia - 16 May 2025 - His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), concluded a productive day of high-level meetings in Tunisia that significantly advanced cooperation frameworks in multiple domains of agricultural development and environmental protection.
Strategic Agriculture Partnership Enhanced
Ambassador Aryn was warmly received by His Excellency Mr. Ezzedine Ben Cheikh, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries, for substantive discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation in key agricultural sectors.
The IOFS Director General expressed his pleasure at revisiting Tunisia and conveyed appreciation for Tunisia's successful chairmanship of the 5th IOFS General Assembly, highlighting the significant achievements made during that period. He particularly noted his satisfaction with the growing level of technical cooperation between IOFS and various Tunisian agricultural institutions.
During the discussions, Ambassador Aryn emphasized the strategic importance of Tunisia's role in the African Food Security Initiative (AFSI), noting the country's agricultural expertise and potential to contribute significantly to regional food security objectives.
Minister Ben Cheikh welcomed the IOFS delegation and expressed Tunisia's strong interest in working more closely with IOFS to develop the wheat sector, a strategic priority for national food security. He highlighted the need for technical cooperation to enhance wheat productivity and resilience.
The Minister also emphasized Tunisia's desire to leverage IOFS platforms to facilitate trade opportunities for Tunisia's flagship agricultural products, highlighting the potential for expanded market access across OIC member states.
In a significant step forward, both sides agreed to establish a joint technical task force to systematically explore and develop specific areas for collaboration, with a focus on immediate priorities and long-term strategic initiatives.
Environmental Cooperation Framework Established
In a subsequent meeting, Ambassador Aryn was received by His Excellency Mr. Habib Abid, Minister of Environment, for discussions centered on environmental challenges affecting agricultural sustainability.
The talks focused on establishing joint collaboration mechanisms to combat desertification, address coastal erosion, and enhance climate change resilience across agricultural systems. Both officials examined how these environmental factors impact agricultural productivity and food security in Tunisia and across the broader region.
In a noteworthy development, the two leaders agreed to co-host a joint side event during the upcoming COP30 climate conference, highlighting the critical intersection between climate change, agriculture, and food security in the OIC region. This initiative aims to elevate the visibility of these interconnected challenges on the global environmental agenda.
National Gene Bank Visit Highlights Technical Cooperation
Ambassador Aryn, also made an important visit to the Tunisian National Gene Bank, where he received a comprehensive briefing on the institution's efforts to preserve Tunisia's rich agricultural biodiversity.
During the visit, the Director General toured the gene bank's advanced facilities and specialized laboratories, gaining insights into Tunisia's methodologies for genetic resource conservation and management. The discussions highlighted the gene bank's role in safeguarding plant genetic diversity critical for future food security and agricultural resilience.
This technical visit built upon previous collaboration between IOFS and the Tunisian Gene Bank, which has included joint training programs for specialists from other OIC member states on gene bank management and genetic resource conservation.
Ambassador Aryn's visit to Tunisia demonstrates IOFS's commitment to strengthening practical cooperation with member states through targeted technical partnerships that address specific food security and agricultural development challenges.
