Astana, Kazakhstan – 14 May 2025 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) convened a meeting with the World Organization for Animal Health (WOAH) at its Headquarters in Astana to discuss strategic cooperation in veterinary services and livestock development. The meeting was chaired by Ambassador Khusrav Noziri, Assistant Director General of IOFS.
The IOFS delegation welcomed Prof. Dr. Romano Marabelli, Advisor to the WOAH Director General, alongside representatives from the Experimental Zooprophylactic Institute of Umbria and Marche (IZSUM), and WOAH’s Sub-Regional Representative for Central Asia, Dr. Mereke Taitubayev.
Discussions focused on key areas of mutual interest, including animal disease control, capacity building, support for the PVS Pathway, and enhancing South-South cooperation. The meeting emphasized the importance of the One Health approach in strengthening food systems across OIC Member States and outlined opportunities for formalizing a long-term partnership between IOFS and WOAH.
Dr. Marabelli presented WOAH’s global mandate in animal health, underlining the organization's role in setting international standards, managing the WAHIS outbreak alert system, and supporting member countries through regional offices and the PVS framework.
The session also featured a presentation by Dr. Giovanni Pezzotti from IZSUM, who expressed interest in expanding collaborative activities with IOFS and WOAH across Africa and Central Asia.
As a result of the meeting, the parties agreed to initiate formal correspondence to establish an official partnership, explore joint regional programming, and coordinate a potential high-level meeting between the Directors General of IOFS and WOAH.
