On 17 October 2021, the Director General of IOFS H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet had several meetings in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The Head of delegation was accompanied by Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to UAE H.E. Mr. Madiyar Menlibekov and IOFS Program Manager Mr. Bakytzhan Arystanbek.
The Director General started his meetings by one with H.E. Mr. Falah Al Ahbabi, the Chairman of Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center (TADWEER) and Dr. Salem Al Kaabi, the Director General of TADWEER. Abu Dhabi Waste Management Center ensures the sustainable waste management & pest control system in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. TADWEER’s specialists also made a presentation on providing pest control management systems in urban area for citizens and private sector entities, as well as described the organization’s work on waste management, including food waste management initiatives and programs.
The Director General of IOFS made an introduction about the organization, its institutional framework, the Vision 2031 and Strategic Programs under the implementation by the IOFS Secretariat. The parties have discussed the points of cooperation and areas that can be jointly implemented. Particularly, it was noted that TADWEER’s experience in urban pest control system and its technology use can be re-designed and presented within IOFS activities in transboundary pest control management in agriculture. Also, given the critical issue of food waste in OIC countries, it was also mentioned that the experience of Abu Dhabi’s authority at the municipal level can be translated into practices of other OIC member countries.
Following the day program, the Director General conducted an extensive meeting with the delegation of Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA) headed by its Director General, H.E. Mr. Saeed Al-Bahri Salem Al-Ameri. Both sides made an overview of strategic vision, objectives and program activities of their organizations. The parties reviewed several areas that represent the mutual interest and opportunities for joint cooperation, particularly, in the field of food security governance, food safety and halal food, livestock development, management of plant and animal genetic resources, food sector development and investment promotion. The Heads of delegation agreed to entrust the development of Memorandum of Understanding with Action Plan on the working level by specialists of IOFS and ADAFSA, and conclude it in the upcoming time.
At the end of the day, the IOFS delegation met representatives of Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) led by Ms. Monira Al Kuttab, ADIO’s Executive Director of Promotions & Business Advisory, where it was presented the program of IOFS on “National Food Sector Development” that encourages intra-OIC trade and investments to build up value chains of domestic food processing, sales networks and develop food clusters, incl. basic agriculture and logistics. Especially, it was highlighted the role of IOFS in inviting Investment Promotion Agencies to share their experience, contribute in the development of the directory on food-related project investments and conceptualize together on appropriate investment promotion strategies to support local food clusters.
In addition, the Director General of IOFS H.E. Mr. Yerlan A. Baidaulet and Kazakhstan’s Ambassador to UAE H.E. Mr. Madiyar Menlibekov discussed the importance of strengthening the partnership between Kazakhstan and UAE in the domain of intra-OIC agriculture and food security, and agreed to enhance the closer engagement between the IOFS Secretariat and Embassy.
