IOFS, ICCIA sign MoU on sidelines of food safety forum

The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture (ICCIA) signed on Monday a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation and partnership between the two sides, on the sidelines of the IOFS Strategic Commodities and Food Safety Forum, which kicked off on Monday.The MoU was signed by Secretary-General of ICCIA Yousef Hasan Khalawi and Director-General of IOFS Yerlan Baidaulet.On this occasion, the two sides emphasised the memorandum's importance in promoting and enhancing investment in food security and agriculture production, as well as encouraging the private sector to enter into effective partnerships in this regard.A fellowship programme in food security was also announced between IOFS and the Organisation of Islamic Co-operation's (OIC) Standing Committee for Scientific and Technological Co-operation (COMSTECH).According to the two sides, this joint initiative will develop co-operation between them in research and capacity-building to achieve food security, and this includes benefiting from water management and the agricultural sector and employing all of this to overcome food challenges, including climate change.The IOFS Strategic Commodities Forum will address ways to activate co-operation between Islamic countries and raise their capabilities in achieving food security, developing and increasing the production of strategic commodities related to food security in these countries, such as grain, as well as raising the level of trade exchange between them, and enabling them to be self-reliant in their production.The forum also brings together the Islamic countries that produce and consume goods related to food security.