Egyptian minister sheds light on reinforcing food security among member states of Organization of Islamic Cooperation

CAIRO – 7 June 2023: Minister of Social Solidarity Nevine al-Qabaj suggested Tuesday that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) can play a role in reinforcing food security among member states by bolstering trade exchange of agricultural goods given that many of them are rich in fertile lands.  

The minister said, during the Egypt-chaired second session of the Ministerial Meeting for Social Development of the OIC, that the entire world is experiencing tough economic, political, social, and cultural circumstances that are causing instability. She added that many countries are still grappling with the fallout of the COVID-19.

Qabaj added that such challenges should encourage the OIC's member states to boost cooperation among them, achieve the governance of social care, protection, and development, and learn from the best practices of some members on that front.

The minister stressed that accomplishing comprehensive social justice in Muslim-majority countries requires securing basic services such as education, healthcare, water supply, access to wastewater network, energy, housing, transportation, gender equality, formalization of the informal sector, curbing overpopulation, reducing socio-economic gaps, and lowering unemployment among youth and females.