OIC states interested in Iran experience on food security: Minister

The Organization of the Islamic Cooperation member states have great interest in using Iran experience on food security, Minister of Agricultural Jihad Sadegh Khalilian said on Thursday.

He made the remarks in an interview with IRNA.

Khalilian noted that Iran’s successful experience on food production and security and the national program to fight poverty were welcomed by the OIC member states attending the Sixth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Food Security and Agricultural Development in Istanbul.

“Agriculture ministers of many countries including Turkey in the private meetings on the sidelines of Istanbul conference called for the expansion of relations with the Islamic Republic of Iran in the field of food security,” Khalilian added.

Iranian and Turkish officials agreed on the exchange of expertise and technology between the two countries, as well as developing cooperation in investment and transit of goods to the third countries.

The Sixth Ministerial Conference of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation on Food Security and Agricultural Development was held in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 3-6.

Under the theme ‘Agricultural Development and Access to Food and Nutrition in OIC Member States’, the ministers reviewed the state of food security and the OIC member states governments’ performance in agriculture sector.

The meeting received presentations by Islamic Development Bank and Food and Agriculture Organization on ‘South-South Cooperation in the area of agriculture, rural development and food security’ within the OIC community. Similarly, the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) presented its study on ‘The State of Food Security and Agriculture Development in OIC Countries: Opportunities for Cooperation’.

Most importantly, the Meeting examined the Progress Report submitted by the COMCEC Task Force on Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security with regard to the elaboration of the Executive Framework for Agriculture, Rural Development and Food Security in OIC Member States.