On August 17, 2021, the Director-General HE Yerlan A. Baidaulet met with the Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Tajikistan HE Muzaffar Khuseinzoda. The Director-General of the IOFS expressed gratitude for the warm welcome and fruitful meetings and noted the importance of the consolidation of the efforts and resources of the international community to address challenges in food security.
HE Muzaffar Khuseinzoda observed the ongoing level of IOFS programs activation and readiness to assist in their implementation. Also, he stressed the importance of willing to leave invaluable patrimony to the next generation, especially through healthy and safe food.
The next meeting this day was held with the Chairman of the Food Security Committee under the Government of the Republic of Tajikistan, Mr. Faizullozoda Muhammadsaid Ubaidullo, who was accompanied by the Head of Phytosanitary control and crop protection Mr. Jamshed Nosirov, and the Head of the veterinary and pedigree control department Mr. Andalov Ismail. The Chairman of the Committee expressed interest in improving international cooperation within the IOFS platform and mentioned the importance of all IOFS programs, especially Plant Genetic Resource Bank development, Strategic Commodity development, as well as Food Security Governance and others. The parties agreed to intensify collaboration in all areas of ensuring food security: agricultural development, research potential, humanitarian assistance, market expansion both regionally and to all OIC countries, as well as opportunities for attracting foreign investment, including Islamic finance, and discussed the possibility to sign MOU.
The Food Security Committee was found in 2018 and nowadays has valuable experience in state regulation. As a separate state body and a comprehensive regulatory legal framework, it regulates the most important issues of national food security.It was agreed that Tajik experts in this field would be of high value to arrange the transfer of knowledge and experience for other OIC countries.
Also, Director General HE Yerlan A. Baidaulet met with the Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of the Republic of Tajikistan Mr. Jumakhonzoda Jamshed Jurakhon. It was found in 1959 and has more than 1000 active members. The sides discussed the possibility to sign an MOU with the IFPA subsidiary of the IOFS Group and the active involvement of the Chamber in all related B2B activities of IOFS to promote trade and investments in the region.
The meeting with the President of the Tajik Academy of Agricultural Science (TAAS) HE Asozoda Nurali Mahmadullo was held at the end of working day. The possibility of cooperation under the framework of the IOFS programs on Science, Technology and Innovations, as well as the development of gene banks and capacity building and joint activity on organizing expeditions to collect wild genetic materials were discussed.
The TAAS was created in 1991, as a coordination body of all local Agri-Science related institutions, represents 11 research institutes, mostly involved in the creation of new crop varieties, gene banks, improvement of livestock pedigree etc.
