Signature of a MOU between ICCD and IOFS
Striving towards enhancing economic cooperation across OIC, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) and the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU), on promoting intra-OIC trade & investment, and contributing to the private sector development in the agri-food sector in OIC member countries.
The MOU was signed by H.E. Mr. Yousef Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, and H.E. Mr. Yerlan Baidaulet, Director General of the Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS), on the sidelines of ICCD`s participation in IOFS Strategic Commodities & Food safety forum, held on February 14 – 16, 2022 in Doha, Qatar. ICCD delegation led by H.E. Mr. Yousef Khalawi, ICCD Secretary General, and joined him Eng. Ashraf El Tanbouly, CEO at Islamic Chamber Halal Certification services (ICHCS), Dr. Mulhim El Tayeb, Agribusiness Strategy Advisor and Mr. Syed Saad Ali Pasha, Manager of Business Development Department.
ICCD’s participation in the Strategic Commodities and Food Safety Forum organized by IOFS is the first step towards achieving the MOU goals. It is noteworthy that the forum is a three-day conference that embraces leading analysts, experts and participants of agro-industrial sectors to discuss wide range of issues in nutrition and Food Safety correlation, sustainable Halal food security ecosystem, concepts of Halal food and the standards regulating them and role of agriculture in food safety promotion in OIC Countries.
According to the signed memorandum of understanding, the two parties shall cooperate and work closely together to serve their common interests properly, and undertake joint initiatives to enhance cooperation across OIC member countries in various areas of economy, besides making their relevant activities more effective.
Moreover, the two institutions have agreed upon a joint action plan, that serves the objectives of the MOU, under which each party would be entrusted with providing the necessary support and assistance for the development of economic cooperation across OIC. This plan includes 5 main areas of cooperation, namely: National Food Sector Development, International Food Processing Association (IFPA), full subsidiary of IOFS, Strategic Commodities, Halal Food, and Livestock sector development. They also agreed to designate technical teams to exchange the information and studies available on the above- mentioned action plan, and they also agreed on the need for regular consultations to follow up the progress of the plan.
In this respect, ICCD expresses its consistent commitment to enhance trade and investment opportunities among its member states, and affirms its readiness and keenness to cooperate with all relevant institutions in order to implement the best practices in this field.
About ICCD:
Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development is an international institution affiliated of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It represents the private sector of 57 member countries of OIC, as well as observer members and other associate members from Muslim minorities. ICCD aims at strengthening cooperation among its member states in the areas of trade, industry, and information technology, and promoting investment opportunities and joint- projects among member states. Its membership consists of national chambers, unions, councils of chambers of commerce and industry in OIC member states.
ICCD was established based on the decision of the Seventh Islamic Conference of Foreign Ministers, which took place in May, 1976 Istanbul, Turkey. And was adopted by the first conference of chambers of commerce and industry in Islamic world countries, which also held in Istanbul, Turkey in Oct., 1977.
Later, the constitution of ICCD was passed by the second conference of chambers of commerce and industry in Islamic world countries, which held in Dec., 1978 in Karachi. Its headquarters in Karachi, the economic capital of the republic of Pakistan.
For more information about ICCD and its upcoming projects and activities, kindly visit our website: https://iccdglobal.com , or contact Media and Communications department via email:news@iccdglobal.com .
About IOFS:
Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS) is an institution affiliated with the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). It is recognized by the judiciary in Kazakhstan, and it aims at Providing expertise and technical knowledge to member states in various aspects of sustainable agriculture, rural development, food security and biotechnology, besides coordination, formulation and implementation of common agricultural policies, mobilizing and managing financial and agricultural resources to enhance food security, and addressing problems such as desertification, deforestation, erosion and salinity across OIC member countries.