On June 8, 2021, Director-General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security H. E. Yerlan Baidaulet (IOFS) met with Akim of Akmola region Mr. Ermek Marzhikpayev.
The meeting began with the Akim’s welcoming words and congratulations on the 10th anniversary of the initiative of the Leader of the Nation, H. E. Nursultan Nazarbayev to establish the Islamic Organization for Food Security under the OIC.
On June 8, 2011, the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev proposed to create an organization for food security within the OIC in Kazakhstan at the 7th World Islamic Economic Forum; then he mentioned it again at the 38th meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC CFM). The OIC member states unanimously supported this proposal. Further, Yerlan A. Baidaulet presented IOFS strategic programs, such as the OIC Action Plan for the Development of Strategic Commodities, Food Security Reserves, OIC STI Agenda 2026, food humanitarian programs, agri-food trade and investment promotion, International Islamic Food Processing Association (IFPA). The IFPA, being a private sector unit, plays an important role for the IOFS, promoting investment and trade in the agricultural and industrial sectors, with a particular focus on supporting the food industry in the IOFS member countries.
The Akim of Akmola region Mr. Marzhikpayev paid attention to the perspectives of mutual cooperation and said: “The region and the country as a whole needs modern scientific approaches for the development of agriculture. Also, the region sets goals to export not only raw materials, but also to create and export processed products with high added value. For the implementation of our goals, including the development of science and business, we are ready to cooperate with the Islamic Organization for Food Security."
The parties expressed their readiness to cooperate within the framework of the presented strategic programs, and to find ways to attract investments for processing and exporting food to the OIC countries.