IOFS and ICCIA made an agreement on strategic cooperation

Delegation of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) headed by Director General Mr. Yerlan Baidaulet held a meeting with Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA), Mr. Yousef Khalawi in Jeddah (KSA). During the meeting, parties discussed a wide range of issues such as active participation in IOFS programs to increase the role of the private sector of member countries in the OIC food security agenda. The Secretary-General of ICCIA showed particular interest in strategic cooperation with IOFS within partnership programs and projects aimed at facilitating mutual trade, formation of Halal infrastructure, support of entrepreneurship among rural youth, establishment of Green Waqf, etc. Secretary-General of ICCIA kindly accepted the invitation of Director General of IOFS to visit Kazakhstan as part of a general regional event for development of halal market in April 2020. At the end of the meeting, the parties agreed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding. Within the framework of the Memorandum, further development of bilateral relations in the following areas is planned:

- Attraction of financing/investments for agricultural trade, including strategic commodities, such as wheat, rice, cassava and palm oil;
- Collaboration in IFPA program. IOFS invited ICCIA and its partners to become active members of the Association;
- Arrangement of joint projects with ICCIA to increase mutual trade between OIC member countries;
- Support of halal trade in the Central Asian region and development of halal export;
- Arrangement of joint events in 2020 (working groups, seminars, and conferences) aimed at development of trade and agro-industry of OIC countries.

It is worth noting that IOFS delegates held a meeting with the CEO of Halal project Mr. Ashraf Eltanbouly within bilateral meetings with ICCIA. Mr. Ashraf presented and elaborated upon the importance of the accredited ICCIA agency for Islamic and non-Islamic countries.



For reference: ICCIA is an affiliated institution of OIC that represents the private sector of 57 Islamic Member Countries. It aims to strengthen collaboration in trade, commerce, information technology, insurance/reinsurance, shipping, and banking, to promote investment opportunities and joint ventures in the Member countries. Its membership is comprised of National Chambers / Unions / Federations of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of the member countries.