Kazakh PM exhorts Islamic world to unite for food security

ASTANA /EMIRATES BUSINESS

Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Karim Massimov, on Thursday, opened the 7th session of the Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) for food security and development of agriculture. Kazakhstan’s candidacy for the post of chairman of the General Assembly of the Islamic Organization for Food Security was endorsed at the
session.
Karim noted Islamic world should not stay aside in such issues as liquidation of hunger, development of agriculture and ensuring food security. “OIC member countries can unite their efforts and contribute hugely to ensuring food security. In turn, we are ready to use the potential of agriculture, transport-logistics and expert system of our country as much as possible. I am confident that all the member countries of the OIC will join the Islamic Organization for Food Security,” added Karim.
HE Iyad Ameen Madani, Secretary Genreal of OIC, said. “We are gathered here to witness the launch of the new specialized institution of the OIC -Islamic Organization for Food Security (IOFS). Its inauguration is no doubt a momentous event. This new executive institution could not have come at a better time, considering the pre-occupation of our Organisation with scaling up intra-OIC cooperation in the vital sector of agriculture, rural development and food security.”
Madani further said, “There is no doubt that the history of OIC cooperation in the food security sector is replete with policy decisions on intra-OIC cooperation in this important sector. The six sessions of OIC Ministerial Conferences on Agriculture and Food Security have adopted series of resolutions on the establishment food security reserves, the creation of an executive framework for food security, and the establishment of an agro-industrial mechanism among OIC member states, among others. However, these policies require our putting in place adequate operational frameworks to carry out needed research, capacity-building and financing aspects of these decisions.”
He lauded the decision of Nursultan Nazarbayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan, for proposing the establishment of the executive institution during his address made at the 38th session of OIC Council of Foreign Ministers, which was held in Astana in June 2011.
Roles of the OIC General Secretariat, the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDBG) and other OIC institutions for their support and guidance, which have contributed to the successful elaboration of an inclusive but innovative Statute for IOFS was applauded by Madani.
Secretary Genreal of OIC said during the conference, “The provisional application of the Statute of the IOFS presupposes that all the countries that have signed the Statute of IOFS would need to proceed most expeditiously to effecting the necessary
ratification.”
Kazakhstan can play an active role in eradication of extreme hunger and malnutrition in the world, Minister of Agriculture Assylzhan Mamytbekov said on Thursday.
“As a main grain producer and exporter in the Central Asian region, Kazakhstan can play an active role in eradication of extreme hunger and malnutrition worldwide and contribute to provision of food security in the region,” Minister Mamytbekov said.
Earlier, it was reported that the number of IOFS member states has reached 31.
The organization will promote export of grain and agricultural products to replenish strategic reserves, reserves of food security in Africa, Middle East and Asia.