IOFS SECOND DAY IN TUNIS MARKED BY NUMBER OF REMARKABLE MEETINGS

22 June 2022

On June 21, 2022 IOFS delegation's visit to Tunis continued by a meeting at the Tunisian Office of Commerce (OCT) with its CEO Mr. Elyes Ben Ameur. During the conversation CEO briefly explained Office’s main goals that focused on strengthening the international competitiveness of Tunisian industry, promoting trade and investment. Also OCT head highlighted Office's mission in supplying basic commodities to the local market at fluctuating prices such as sugar, green coffee, tea, and rice. H.E. Prof. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General of IOFS, explained the Institution's mandate and role in the development of intra-OIC food trade and invited OCT to visit the IOFS Secretariat and continue cooperation through the International Food Processing Association (IFPA), as well as the integration of projects and activities for the benefit of both organisations.

The following meeting took place at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Tunisia in which the IOFS presented the several important points to the Ministry. First and foremost, during the meeting the H.E. Prof. Yerlan A. Baidaulet, Director General of the IOFS shared about the IOFS Strategic Vision 2031 and the 16 Programmes that it has been implementing for OIC Member Countries, highlighting the two current events jointly organized with the Tunisian side related to Gene Bank Management and Development of the Olive Industry within the OIC geography. In addition, an overview of the implementation of the IOFS's two global programmes as Afghanistan Food Security Program and Year of Africa 2022 has been also presented to the Ministry.

The Tunisian side stressed the need to find the market to import the cereals in which the IOFS would play the vital role, in which the parties agreed to cooperate in this domain. Following the fruitful meeting, the Director General of IOFS was invited to attend the National and IOC Best Extra Version Olive Oil Awards Ceremony, which was followed by a meeting with HE Mr. Abdellatif Ghedira, the Executive Director of the International Olive Oil Council (IOC), in which the parties explored a number of opportunities for joint cooperation, in which several issues such as Kazakhstan's and other MCs potential to become new Members of the IOC, which via IOFS may be facilitated, and the overall collaboration between organizations have been also discussed.

After all, the IOFS delegation had an opportunity to make a side visit upon the invitation of the National GeneBank to witness best samples of valorization and extension procesd arranged by the Agricultural Development Group of Tunisia (GDA).