IOFS LAUNCHES HIGH LEVEL FORUM IN COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF MUNICIPALITY OF THE STATE OF QATAR

Country: Qatar
IOFS LAUNCHES HIGH LEVEL FORUM IN COOPERATION WITH THE MINISTRY OF MUNICIPALITY OF THE STATE OF QATAR
01 October 2023

Doha, Qatar – 01 October 2023 – The Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) marked the grand opening of the 2nd High-Level Forum with a prestigious ceremony attended by prominent dignitaries and esteemed experts from around the world. The ceremony gathered over 150 participants from North America, Africa, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia. This landmark event, held in Doha, Qatar, has brought together a diverse array of stakeholders to deliberate on the critical issues surrounding food security and sustainable agriculture.
 
The ceremony was inaugurated by the opening remarks of His Excellency Mr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality of the State of Qatar, who extended a warm welcome to participants and emphasized Qatar’s commitment to advancing food security and agricultural sustainability while ensuring the unwavering support for the IOFS work and activities.


The Opening Ceremony also counted with the remarks by, His Excellency Mr. Abdelmonem Belati, Minister of Agriculture, Water Resources and Fisheries of the Republic of Tunisia, delivered a compelling statement underscoring the importance of international cooperation in addressing food security challenges. In fact, he was addressing the audience in his capacity as Chairman of the 5th IOFS General Assembly.


As it is well known, the IOFS Secretariat is graciously hosted by the Republic of Kazakhstan. As such, His Excellency Mr. Erbol Taszhurekov, Vice-Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan, shared his insights into the agricultural landscape in Kazakhstan and the nation’s dedication to enhancing food security through sustainable practices.
 
The ceremony continued with a statement by His Excellency Prof. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), highlighting the OIC’s role in supporting food security initiatives. He also took time to launch an appeal for the most advanced OIC Member States to scale up assistance to IOFS’ growth and ensure that the Organization is successful in quest to ensuring food security for those Member States in need.


As one of the key global partners of the IOFS, His Excellency Dr. AbdulHakim Elwaer, FAO Assistant Director-General and Regional Representative for the Near East and North Africa, addressed the audience, emphasizing the importance of regional collaboration in achieving food security goals.

The opening ceremony concluded with the closing remarks of the IOFS Secretariat, represented by the Director of Programs and Projects, Prof. Zulfiqar Ali encapsulating all the initiatives and efforts of the IOFS and inviting the audience to take active participation in all the upcoming subforums .