03.04.2012, Khartoum –
Food Security is one of the main issues that constitute a concern for a number of member countries of the Islamic Development Bank as a result of rising oil prices and other problems currently prevailing in the world”, stated Dr. Faisal Hassan Ibrahim, Sudan’s Minister of Animal Resources and Fisheries at a high profile symposium on food security held on the occasion of the 37th Annual Meeting of the IDB Board of Governors. He urged the Governments, economic organizations and financial institutions in the Islamic world to pay considerable interest to this area, especially after the food gap in Arab countries amounted to $ 37 billion in 2010.

He added that the symposium was an opportunity to exchange information about the strategy of member countries of IDB to seek investment in related areas.

The symposium provided ground for a discussion on funding for agricultural investment and the exchange of knowledge among decision makers and investors. The speakers stressed on the need for strong political will to address the problem of food security, water scarcity, etc and emphasized that special attention need to be provided in the areas of fish farming and meat production.

Mr. Fahad bin Mohammed Al-Attiyah, Chief Executive of the Qatar Program for National Food Security presented the initiative of HRH The Emir of Qatar, The initiative called member countries states that are similar in their circumstances to draw a road map, find the appropriate mechanism, and come out with specific recommendations to achieve food security. He said there are several legislations that encourage the private sector to invest in the agricultural field.

The seminar reviewed the experience of the Arab Agricultural Investment and Development organization in Sudan and the challenges that it had to face since its establishment 35 years ago. It was revealed that the challenges stem from poor infrastructure and lack of arrangements to encourage collaboration between countries with agricultural resources and those with financial resources.

At the end of the seminar Dr. Mohamed Khair Al-Zubair, Governor of the Central bank of Sudan stated that his country has been nominated as one of three countries in the world to solve the food problem taking into account the abundant natural resources and water available. He emphasized the role of governments in creating suitable climate for investment and encouraging partnership between the governments and the private sector in the field of food production.