Dubai, UAE – February 5, 2026 – His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), concluded a successful mission to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, where he led the IOFS delegation at the Conference on Initiatives to Achieve Food Security in the Arab World. The conference, organized by the Arab Authority for Agricultural Investment and Development under the theme "Sustainability is the Path to Food Security," brought together regional and international stakeholders to address critical challenges facing food security in the Arab world.
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During the conference, Ambassador Aryn delivered a keynote address highlighting the critical importance of collective action and sustainable investment in achieving food security across the Arab region. In his speech, he emphasized the need for innovative partnerships, resource mobilization, and coordinated interventions to address the mounting challenges facing agricultural development and food systems in member states.
On the sidelines of the conference, Ambassador Aryn held discussions with high-level officials and heads of international organizations, resulting in significant agreements that will strengthen collaborative efforts to combat food insecurity across the region.
The mission included a productive discussion with Professor Ibrahim Adam Ahmed El-Dukheri, Director General of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development (AOAD), culminating in the signing of a Joint Action Plan covering 2026-2028 to address shared challenges in agricultural development and food security in the Arab world.
Ambassador Aryn also engaged in substantive discussions with Dr. Nasser Alkahtani, AGFUND Special Envoy to the Global Flagship Initiative on Food Security, and Dr. Conrad Rein, Secretary General of the Global Flagship Initiative for Food Security of Crop Trust. The discussions focused on leveraging the complementary strengths and resources of their respective institutions to provide urgent assistance to countries facing severe food security challenges, particularly Sudan and Syria, among other nations requiring immediate support.
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On the sidelines of the conference, the IOFS Director General held a fruitful meeting with His Excellency Dr. Abdallahi Ould Souleymane Ould Cheikh-Sidia, Minister of Economy and Development of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania. The discussions centered on advancing and facilitating the implementation of the Wheat Farming Development Project in Mauritania, a strategic initiative aimed at enhancing wheat production and reducing import dependency in the country. Both parties explored mechanisms for accelerating project execution and ensuring effective coordination among relevant stakeholders.
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During his stay in Dubai, Ambassador Aryn also engaged with private sectors companies from UAE and Kuwait to explore ways to improve intra-trade between Central Asia and the GCC, identifying opportunities for strengthening economic ties and food security cooperation between the two regions.
The conference provided a valuable platform for exchanging ideas and exploring practical approaches to achieving sustainable food security in the region. Through these partnerships and continued collaboration with development partners, IOFS remains committed to supporting member states in addressing food security challenges and improving the lives of vulnerable populations
