On 24 November 2022 the IOFS Director General H.E. Prof. Yerlan A. Baidaulet accompanied by Amb. Daulet Yemberdiev, Director of Cooperation and Humanitarian Aid Office, within the visit in Islamabad, the Islamic Republic of Pakistan had several fruitful meetings with the concerned government high officials.
The IOFS Director General had a productive meeting with Chief economist Dr. Nadeem Javaid at the Ministry for Planning, Development & Special Initiative and Co-chairman of China Pakistan Economic Corridor Authority (CPEC). During the meeting, Prof. Yerlan Baidaulet informed about the activities and programs implemented by IOFS so far.
He highly appreciated Pakistan's contribution to the projects and programs within the OIC framework and expressed his gratitude to the government for its ongoingsupport.
Chief economist Dr. Nadeem Javaid pointed out that Pakistan has always attached particular importance to the Islamic Organization of Food Security and highly evaluated the activities are being carried by the IOFS. HE Mr. Nadeem Javaid also stressed the importance of dialogue between OIC member countries on food security issues. The parties also discussed the participation of the IOFS at China Pakistan Economic Corridor Initiative. Pakistani partners gave IOFS several practical recommendations in this direction.
The IOFS Director General H.E. Prof. Yerlan A. Baidaulet also held a meeting with H.E. Amb. Syed Haider Shah Additional Secretary Foreign Office . The meeting was focused on development of bilateral trade relations between two member countries and opening new logistic ways for joint trading. It was agreed that IFPA platform would be utilized more actively. Parties discussed a wide range of intra-OIC trade-related issues, incl. free trade agreements within OIC region, model of ECO cooperation, trade to Afghanistan, capacity development actvities. Prof. Yerlan Baidaulet noted the importance of full coordination between the relevant OIC’s organs and institutions to alleviate the suffering of Afghani people and provide the urgently needed food humanitarian assistance in cooperation and coordination with the OIC’s office in Kabul, through finding appropriate mechanisms, as well as coordination with the United Nations and its relevant agencies, and international financial institutions.
IOFS Director General shared the overview about the programmes and activities, with the special attention paid to two global programs on Afghanistan Food Security (AFSP) and Year of Africa 2022.
The two sides agreed that the focus of joint work would be the scientific and sustainable development perspectives of addressing the challenges of food insecurity in Islamic states.
To conclude, the IOFS Director General had a productive meeting with H.E.Mr. Zafar Hasan, Deputy Minister for National Food Security & Research. The meeting discussed the ways of enhancing relationships between IOFS and Pakistan. Mr. Yerlan Baidaulet briefed his counterpart on IOFS's ongoing programs and activities, with a focus on regional projects. The Deputy Minister fully agreed that IOFS provides a multilateral platform for its Member States to realize various programmes and consequent projects within its strategic domain.
The Deputy Minister of Pakistan commended the ideas of IOFS and expressed great interest in cooperation with IOFS.
The Director-General expressed hope that Pakistan will continue playing a strong role within the IOFS as support from member countries is vital for its further development.
Both parties agreed to cooperate within respective programs and the IFPA platform. Director General IOFS urged Zafar Hasan to assist in attracting the Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Pakistani Association of Food Industries to be honorary members of the IFPA - International Islamic Food Processing Association. It was mentioned that the IFPA entity is essential for improving intra-OIC food market.
