Astana, Kazakhstan – 10 June 2025 - H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), today welcomed H.E. Mr. Golamreza Nuori Ghezelcheh, Minister of Agriculture Jihad of the Islamic Republic of Iran, to the IOFS Headquarters in Astana. The visit was recognized as a significant milestone in strengthening bilateral cooperation and reflected Iran’s continued commitment to the shared goals and values of the IOFS.
Ambassador Aryn conveyed his sincere appreciation for the warm hospitality extended to him and the IOFS delegation during their visit to Tehran in March this year. He noted that the discussions were not only productive but also reaffirmed the strong mutual desire to expand collaboration between IOFS and the Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Director General expressed his gratitude for Iran’s ongoing interest in actively engaging with IOFS activities. He proposed exploring practical avenues for cooperation, including joint research on strategic agricultural products, capacity-building initiatives for young professionals and technical staff, enhanced collaboration on technology transfer—particularly in biotechnology and climate-smart agriculture—and the promotion of sustainable farming practices in arid regions. He also suggested considering the introduction of smart agriculture tools and taking joint efforts in establishing an Association of Agricultural Academies to foster academic and scientific exchange. Ambassador Aryn highlighted the readiness of Kazakshtani academic institutions to support this nitative and underlined its alighment with Iran’s chairmanship role within the OIC -15 Dialogue Platform. 
Ambassador Aryn further highlighted the upcoming 7th General Assembly of IOFS, during which 2026 is expected to be designated as the “Year of Women Agrileaders and Youth Agripreneurs.” This initiative aims to empower women and youth in agriculture and strongly resonates with Iran’s own proposals to enhance the role of women in the agricultural sector.
Minister Nuori Ghezelcheh welcomed IOFS’s intention to send a team of experts to Tehran to study in detail and advance the proposed areas of collaboration. He emphasized the particular importance of wheat development, proposing the organization of a national seminar focused on breeding drought-resistant varieties. He also underscored the value of strengthening ties between Kazakh and Iranian experts and facilitating the exchange of best practices between the two countries.
The Minister expressed appreciation for IOFS’s consistent support and reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to close collaboration with the Organization in advancing regional food security. He reiterated that agriculture remains a national development priority.
The meeting concluded with agreement on the next practical steps, including the formation of a joint working group to advance priority initiatives in the agricultural sector.
The meeting concluded with agreement on the next practical steps, including the formation of a joint working group to advance priority initiatives in the agricultural sector.
