IOFS delegation holds a number of meetings in UAE

IOFS delegation holds a number of meetings in UAE
18 February 2021
On the closing day of his productive working visit to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the Director-General of IOFS, H.E. Yerlan Baidaulet along with the DG-CEO of International IFPA, Sheikh Bilal Khan met with the Dubai Airport Free Zone Authority (DAFZA) which is one of the Free Economic Zones in Dubai under the chairmanship of Sheikh Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum and the management of Dr. Mohammed Al Zarooni and Ms. Amna Rashid Lootah. They discussed many specific programs for collaboration between IOFS/IFPA and DAFZA including the initiatives of the Global Gateway to Halal Industry and the Halal Trade & Marketing Centre (HTMC) where International IFPA will be particularly involved to boost the OIC agri-food trade and ag-tech projects. Thereafter the delegation was hosted by Dinar Standard under the leadership of its CEO, Mr. Rafi-uddin Shikoh for a highly engaging round-table with a select group of key agri-food private-sector businesses including Dubai Islamic Bank and some of the major OIC country-specific conglomerates and logistics companies who have agreed to join and collaborate with the platform of IFPA.  

At the end of the round-table discussion, there was a special signing ceremony conducted where International IFPA and Dinar Standard signed a partnership agreement represented respectively by Sheikh Bilal Khan and Mr. Rafi-uddin Shikoh. The parties have agreed to work very closely to develop IFPA's platform and provide a suite of services to IFPA's membership and other strategic partners. 

The final meeting of the visit was with one of the major success stories of the UAE in the Halal food wholesale and distribution business, Al Islami Foods. The CEO of Al Islami Foods, Mr. Shahid Khan expressed a great desire to join the IFPA to broaden its OIC footprint, diversify its food range in other OIC markets across the supply chain, take its brand to the next level and become a food giant in the OIC especially given the great experience of Mr. S. Khan in building successful businesses and strong brands in multiple international markets. 

Before concluding their visit to UAE, H.E. Yerlan A. Baidaulet and Sheikh Bilal Khan thanked the Embassy of the Republic of Kazakhstan including the Ambassador H.E. Menilbekov Madiyar and the Consul General R.Zhumabek  for their continuous support and facilitation along with the key hosting partners such as Dinar Standard, Salaam Gateway, DIEDC and DAFZA.