Productive Meetings and the signing of an MoU on the Second Day of the Official Vist of IOFS to Sudan

The second day of H.E. Prof. Yerlan Baidaulet's visit to Khartoum, Republic of Sudan, on December 1, 2022, was conducted by a marathon of extremely productive meetings with senior Sudanese authorities and heads of international and regional organizations with a presence in Sudan.

A meeting at the Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources marked the start of H.E. Director General's second day of the visit. During this discussion, potential to improve bilateral cooperation, notably in terms of capacity building, were reviewed, before the two sides agreed to implement a specific programme to strengthen the knowledge of the Sudanese expertise in the rational use of its water resources in irrigation and agricultural production.

The Arab Bank for Economic Development in Africa (BADEA) headquarters hosted the second meeting of the day, when H.E. the Director General of IOFS was welcomed by H.E. Dr. Sidi Ould TAH, Director General of BADEA. During this meeting, the two Officials emphasized their convictions to work together in order to support their interventions, and deal with this problem, as they discussed and assessed the Critical State of Food Security and the degradation of the agriculture production in the Islamic world, which is marked by a highly worrying situation. As they stressed their convictions and awarness to join efforts in order to support their interventions and make it more sustainable and efficient, to deal with these challenges. Before the conclusion of this productive meeting, the IOFS and the BADEA proceeded to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), strengthening their cooperation and interventions with African countries and other member countries.

Later in the day, Prof. Baidaulet met H.E. Mrs. Batoul Abbas Allam Awad, Minister of Industry, the two sides discussed opportunities for collaboration, particularly in enhancing Sudan's expertise in value chains and food processing of products with agricultural and animal origins.

Immediately following this meeting, H.E. Mr. Gebreil Ibrahim Mohamed Fediel, Minister of Finance & Economic Planning and Chairman of Sudanese Food Security Commission, audience with the H.E. DG of the IOFS, during this meeting the two officials pursued their discussions begun a few days earlier in Istanbul on the sidelines of COMSEC meetings, about the means and tools to be put in place to enable Sudan to benefit from its enormous potential in terms of natural and animal resources, which could make this country the basket of the Islamic world, once appropriate measures will be put in place.

His Excellency DG of the IOFS, also met with H.E. Mrs. Ilham Madani Mahdi, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, who stressed the importance of working closely with the IOFS to help Sudan raise the finances required to carry out the bankable projects for which they have already developed.

When H.E. Director General of IOFS and his team visited the GIAD group for engineering industries, they were able to learn more about the Group's activities, particularly in relation to agricultural machinery and its potential for output.

Before the second visit day came to a close, Prof. Baidaulet was received at the Headquarters of the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development by H.E.  Prof. Ibrahim Adam El Dukheri, DG of AOAD, both responsible presented a brief overview about the achievements and accomplishments of their organization this year, they also agreed to continue bolstering their activities for the benefit of the Arab and Muslim Ummah.

His Excellency Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General, wrapped up the second day of IOFS's visit to Sudan by attending the Sudanese Business Federation Forum as a guest of honor. There, he delivered a speech, and then engaged in discussion with the country's private sector about opportunities to improve investment and the development of intra-OIC trade, additionally, he gave a presentation on the new IFPA Strategy and reaffirmed his appeal for all member nations' Chambers of Commerce, Agricultural Federations, and large private sector enterprises to join this platform for trade and investment in the Islamic world.

Throughout the meetings, H.E. Director General was assisted by Mr. Aid Said Hussain, Special Envoy for Africa and Mr. Sofian Ben Mouaddeb, Senior Country Manager, and was accompanied by H.E. Ambassador Youssef Al-Kurdutani, The Director of International Organization at Ministry of Foregn Affairs of the Republic of Sudan