Astana, Kazakhstan – 11 June 2024 – The Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, received at his Office Mr. Kairat Nazhmidenov, Head of the Liaison and Partnership Office of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) in the Republic of Kazakhstan to explore avenues for enhancing bilateral cooperation. The discussions focused particularly on issues pertinent to Kazakhstan and the broader Central Asian region.
During the meeting, both parties emphasized the importance of strengthening collaborative efforts to address critical agricultural and food security challenges in the region. The two sides underscored their commitment to working together on initiatives that promote sustainable agricultural practices, improve food security, and bolster the resilience of local food systems, particularly in the context of plant breeding and seed systems of oil seeds and grains, including wheat in Kazakhstan.Mr. Nazhmidenov expressed his appreciation for the ongoing partnership with IOFS and opened the gate for the Organization to be involved with relevant FAO projects in Kazakhstan towards creating sustainable solutions that benefit communities and enhance food security. The two sides are to accordingly hold technical consultations in near future.
Ambassador Berik echoed these sentiments, noting the importance of continued collaboration between FAO and IOFS as a mean for both parties to materialize their dedication to strengthening their partnership and working towards common goals that support the agricultural development and food security of Kazakhstan and the Central Asian region.
It should be mentioned that during the meeting, Ambassador Berik was assisted by Prof. Zulfiqar Ali, Director of Programs & Projects Department, and Mr. Abdula Manafi Mutualo, Chief Multilateral Affairs Officer, while Mr. Nazhmidenov counted with the support of Ms. Anara Jumabayeva, Senior Economist at Investment Centre Division, and Ms. Zhanyl Bozayeva, Program Officer/Team Leader at the Liaison and Partnership Office in Kazakhstan.
