IOFS welcomes Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan as its New Member States
Images | Islamic Organisation for Food Security
Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan, 6 May 2026 - The Islamic Organisation for Food Security (IOFS) welcomes the accession of the Republic of Azerbaijan and the Republic of Uzbekistan to the Organisation, bringing the total number of IOFS Member States to 43 and marking an important step in strengthening cooperation among OIC Member States in the field of food security.
The signing ceremony of the IOFS Statute took place in Baku on the sidelines of the 19th Azerbaijan International Agriculture Exhibition and Forum, underscoring the growing momentum of intergovernmental collaboration in addressing shared agricultural and food security challenges. The Statute was signed by H.E. Mr. Majnun Mammadov, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Azerbaijan, and H.E. Mr. Ibrokhim Abdurakhmonov, Minister of Agriculture of the Republic of Uzbekistan respectively. The ceremony was attended by H.E. Ambassador Berik Aryn, Director General of IOFS, Ms. Noura Al-Zahrani, representative of the OIC General Secretariat, and H.E. Mr. Alim Bayel, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Kazakhstan to the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Accession of Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan represents a strategic addition to IOFS, bringing strong agricultural potential and growing expertise in agri-industrial development and innovation. The Organisation has already initiated cooperation with both Azerbaijani and Uzbekistani partners in areas such as agricultural innovation, value chains, transboundary pest control, digital water resource management, environmentally sustainable agricultural practices, broader regional coordination on food systems resilience and knowledge exchange. Through their membership, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will benefit from expanded opportunities for technical cooperation, policy dialogue, and participation in regional initiatives aimed at strengthening resilient food systems.
This newest expansion in the IOFS membership reflects the growing confidence of OIC Member States in the Organisation’s mandate as a specialized platform for action in food security and sustainable agricultural development. It also signals a clear transition in IOFS work from policy dialogue toward operational partnerships capable of delivering measurable impact on the ground.
In this regard, IOFS encourages the remaining OIC Member States that have not yet joined the Organisation to consider becoming part of this expanding multilateral platform. Membership in IOFS offers access to shared expertise, coordinated technical assistance, strategic partnerships, and practical initiatives designed to strengthen national and regional food security capacities.
IOFS remains committed to working closely with its Member States and partners to build resilient, inclusive, and sustainable food systems across the OIC region.
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