Istanbul, Turkiye - 22 June 2025 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), represented by its Director General, H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, actively participated in the closing ceremony of the 51st Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, Republic of Türkiye. The session concluded with the unanimous adoption of draft resolutions, including the resolution endorsing the IOFS’s upcoming programmes and activities for 2025–2026. It was also confirmed that the 52nd CFM will be hosted by the Republic of Iraq in 2026.
A key outcome of the session was the conferral of new mandates to the IOFS, reaffirming its central role in advancing food security across the OIC region. Member States have called on the Organization to enhance intra-OIC food trade and agribusiness through targeted initiatives, while also prioritizing comprehensive programs to support food security and sustainable livelihoods for refugee populations. These efforts will involve coordinated partnerships with OIC bodies, international institutions, and regional stakeholders, while fostering innovative, localized solutions to improve access to nutritious food and economic opportunities for vulnerable communities.
Additionally, Member States were encouraged to express formal interest in hosting IOFS Regional Offices in their respective capitals, as a way to reinforce the Organization’s operational presence and deepen its mission to ensure food security across all OIC Member States. The renewed mandates also included a call for continued support to flagship programs such as the Afghanistan Food Security Programme (AFSP) and the Africa Food Security Initiative (AFSI), both of which remain key pillars of IOFS strategic engagement.
On the sidelines of the Ministerial session, the Director General held a series of high-level bilateral meetings with foreign ministers and heads of delegations from IOFS Member States. These discussions focused on reviewing ongoing partnerships, identifying new areas of cooperation, and reinforcing collective action through the IOFS framework to meet emerging food systems challenges. Among the dignitaries met were H.E. Mr. Muhamad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan; H.E. Mr. Abdoulkader Houssein Omar, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Djibouti; H.E. Mr. Régis Onanga Ndiaye, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Gabon; H.E. Dr. Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul, Chad’s Minister of State, Minister of Foreign Affairs, African Integration, and Chadians Abroad; H.E. Mr. Mohamed Salem Ould Merzoug, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania; H.E. Mr. Shaya Mohsen Al-Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Yemen; H.E. Mr. Mateus da Cecília Feniasse Saize, Minister of Justice and of Constitutional and Religious Matters of the Republic of Mozambique; and H.E. Mr. El Taher Elbaour, Acting Foreign Minister of the State of Libya.
In a parallel effort to expand the Organization’s reach, the Director General also held important consultations with representatives of OIC Member States that are yet to join the IOFS. During these meetings, he renewed the formal invitations to join the IOFS as a fully-fledged Member State within the framework of several OIC Resolutions (CFM and/or Ministerial Conference on Food Security and Agricultural Development) that have been urging OIC Member States that have not yet joined the IOFS Statute to conclude all necessary arrangements at their earliest convenience, emphasizing the shared benefits of membership, including access to technical expertise, policy coordination, and capacity-building platforms. These engagements included meetings with H.E. Mr. Jeyhun Bayramov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Azerbaijan; H.E. Mr. Jeenbek Kulubayev, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic; H.E. Mr. Dato Erywan Pehin Yusof, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Brunei Darussalam; H.E. Mr. Sugiono, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia; H.E. Mr. Mohamad Alamin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Malaysia; and H.E. Mr. Khalifa bin Ali bin Issa Alharty, Undersecretary for Political Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman.
Additionally, the Director General held a constructive exchange with H.E. Ambassador Tarig Ali Bakheet, Assistant Secretary General for Cultural, Social, and Humanitarian Affairs of the OIC, regarding the AFSP implementation. A key follow-up outcome of this discussion was the affirmation of the OIC’s approval for the IOFS to utilize its Kabul office premises, enabling the Organization to establish a formal physical presence in the Afghan capital.
It should be noted that the 51st CFM, held under the theme “The OIC in a Transforming World”, brought together high-level delegations to deliberate on key regional and global issues, with a strong emphasis on unity and solidarity in the face of mounting global challenges. Throughout the bilateral engagements, the Director General also reaffirmed the IOFS’s unwavering commitment to promoting food systems resilience, sustainable agriculture, and collaborative solutions that serve the collective interests of OIC Member States.
