14th May, 2026, The Secretariat of the Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) participated virtually as an Observer in the 7th General Assembly of the Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS), hosted by the Republic of Kazakhstan under the theme “Food Security through Cooperation and Innovation.”
The opening session featured remarks by H.E. Abdullah bin Hamad bin Abdullah Al Attiya, Minister of Municipality of the State of Qatar, who formally transferred the Chairmanship of the IOFS General Assembly to the Republic of Kazakhstan. Following the transition, the session was chaired by H.E. Aidarbek Saparov, Minister of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, who emphasized the growing strategic importance of food security and the need for stronger practical cooperation among Member States.
The session also included statements by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs of the OIC, and H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of IOFS, highlighting the Organization’s ongoing efforts and future priorities aimed at advancing sustainable and resilient food systems across Member States.
The ministerial session brought together representatives from more than 40 OIC Member States and over 15 international organizations to deliberate on collective strategies for strengthening food security, agricultural innovation, biodiversity preservation, and regional cooperation across the OIC region.
The Executive Director of COMSATS, Ambassador Dr. Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, along with senior officials from the COMSATS Centre for Climate and Sustainability (CCCS), attended the online proceedings and observed the ministerial deliberations and interventions by participating Member States and partner organizations.
During the General Assembly, Member States adopted 13 resolutions focused on enhancing agricultural innovation, biodiversity conservation, institutional development, and regional collaboration. Key decisions included the establishment of the IOFS International Genebank in Kazakhstan, the designation of 2027 as the IOFS Year of Women Agrileaders and Youth Agripreneurs, the establishment of the first IOFS regional office in Morocco, and the operational launch of the IOFS Food Security and Innovation Knowledge Hub.
The Assembly also approved the Global Islamic Food Security Expo as a recurring international platform for partnerships and innovation, while reaffirming support for ongoing IOFS initiatives addressing food security challenges in Africa, Afghanistan, and across OIC Member States.
Building on the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between COMSATS and IOFS, COMSATS reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening South-South cooperation and promoting collaborative pathways for innovation, climate resilience, and sustainable food systems in pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals.
