The 4^th General Assembly Meeting of IOFS was held virtually and technically hosted by the Republic of Kazakhstan on 8-9 September 2021 with the theme of “Food Systems of the OIC in post-pandemic world.” The Meeting brought together Ministers of Agriculture, representatives of relevant OIC institutions and international organizations.

SESRIC was represented at the Meeting by H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General, Mr. Fadi Farasin, Assistant Director General and Mr. Mazhar Hussain, Director of Economic and Social Research.

The first day was dedicated to the Senior Officials Meeting (preparatory to the Ministerial Session) which was chaired by H.E.Mr. Ruslan Manatayev, Vice Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan. During the SOM, participants were briefed about the organizational matters concerning IOFS membership, finance and strategic vision 2031 along with the implementation status of the resolutions of the 2^nd and 3^rd General Assembly Meetings and progress on 16 current programmes of the IOFS.

The second day was dedicated to the Ministerial Session which commenced with the welcome address of H.E. Mr. Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, President of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the speech of outgoing chairman H.E. Mr. Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry of the Republic of Turkey. The participants also heard the statement of H.E. Dr. Yousef Al-Othaimeen, Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), which was delivered by H.E. Dr. Ahmad Kawesa Sengendo, Assistant Secretary General for Economic Affairs. After the transfer of chairmanship of General Assembly from Turkey to Kazakhstan, H.E Mr. Yerbol Karashukeyev, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan delivered a welcome speech and chaired the proceedings of the Ministerial Session.

SESRIC had the privilege of addressing the Ministerial Session in which H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General, apprised the participants of Centre’s activities and programmes in the areas supportive to the goals and objectives of the IOFS. Mr. DABUR also expressed SESRIC’s readiness to strengthen cooperation and partnership with the IOFS and all other relevant OIC institutions, national, regional, and international organizations to support the efforts of OIC member countries in the domain of food security and agriculture development.