Partnership with the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC) Highlighted at the 36th Session in Baghdad

On 1^st March 2023 and in representation of His Excellency Prof. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, the Director General of the Islamic Organization of Food Security (IOFS), Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Advisor at Coordination & Cooperation Department, attended the 36^th Session of the Islamic Committee of the International Crescent (ICIC) in Baghdad, Republic of Iraq.

The Session served for the participants to be acquainted with the projects that the ICIC implemented in 2022, and those that are planned for 2023. In this context, the IOFS representative while addressing the meeting, emphasized the importance of ICIC-IOFS bilateral cooperation within the framework of the Memorandum of Understanding the two Specialized Institutions of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) signed in January 2022.

In this context, the IOFS representative while highlighting the importance of such partnership, called on participating Member States to generously support both Institutions in implementing joint programmes, particularly one of the four immediate projects that are part of the Afghanistan Food Security Program (AFSP). He also seized the opportunity to request the President of the Iraq Red Crescent Society, Dr. Yassin Al-Mamouri, to assist the IOFS in its quest for his country to become full-fledged Member of the Organization.

Additional bilateral meetings were held on the margins of the event, including Mr. Adel Abu Haidar, Director General of the Iraqi Ministry of Trade, for sharing the IOFS experience and opportunities in the field of private sector, investment and trade promotion in relation to food security and agricultural development, which the country would benefit, in case it decided to join the IOFS. Another meeting was held with Dr. Mohammed Ennadi, Supervisor General of the Arab Center for International Humanitarian Law, which is part of the Arad Red Crescent and Red Cross Organization, towards exchanging views on how to establish bilateral cooperation for assisting mutual Member States.