Astana, Kazakhstan – 29 May 2025 – His Excellency Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), participated in the opening plenary session of the Astana International Forum (AIF) 2025, held under the theme “Shared Future: Inclusive Growth and Sustainability.” Officially opened by H.E. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Forum serves as a premier platform for strengthening international cooperation in the face of global transformations, with a focus on foreign policy, climate and energy, and economic development.
This year’s Forum convened over 7,000 participants, including heads of state and government, leaders of international organizations, political figures, and representatives of leading global companies and academic institutions. More than 160 speakers from Europe, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa - representing organizations such as the United Nations, FAO, IOM, and WIPO - are engaging in over 40 panel sessions, informal dialogues, and strategic discussions on cross-border partnerships and sustainable growth.
On the sidelines of the Forum, Ambassador Aryn held a number of high-level meetings with distinguished counterparts. He had the opportunity to exchange views with H.E. Mr. Ban Ki-moon, former Secretary-General of the United Nations and current President and Chair of the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI), on shared priorities in sustainable development.
Ambassador Aryn also met with H.E. Mr. Daniyar Amangeldiev, Deputy Prime Minister of the Kyrgyz Republic, to discuss enhanced regional collaboration in agriculture and trade, including the prospects of Kyrgyzstan’s accession to the IOFS as a full Member State. Discussions with H.E. Mr. Alhaj Nooruddin Azizi, Minister of Industry and Commerce of the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan, focused on strengthening IOFS support for Afghanistan through ongoing humanitarian and food security programs. In addition, Ambassador Aryn engaged with H.E. Mr. Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the King of Ife, Nigeria, on potential areas of cooperation in traditional agriculture, rural development, and culturally rooted approaches to food systems. He also met with H.E. Nur Jazlan Mohamed, Deputy President of the Senate of Malaysia, to discuss opportunities for deeper engagement with Malaysia on food security cooperation and parliamentary support for the mission of IOFS.
Notably, Ambassador Aryn also held a constructive meeting with H.E. Mr. Kubanychbek Omuraliev, Secretary General of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), where they explored common objectives in regional integration and sustainable agricultural development across Turkic-speaking countries.
These engagements underscore IOFS’s proactive diplomacy and its role in building multi-regional alliances to tackle shared challenges in food security, climate change, and inclusive development, in line with the broader objectives of the AIF 2025 and the international community.
