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further exploring trade liberalization between member states would strengthen the OIC-
wide food system.
 Supplementing a government-led, OIC-wide trade agreement is a policy to foster targeted
cooperation between member countries in producing particular products. Partnerships
can be created between member countries that may have different strengths. Such
partnerships can be created across different product segments of food and agriculture
and can bring together private companies as well as investment firms and sovereign
wealth funds.
Questions and Remarks
Question: How do you ensure that the rating is credible and a worthwhile effort?
Answer: A more detailed collection of data for OIC Member Countries is proposed since
most of the data that is available is outdated and more granular data is needed to facilitate
action. How OIC member countries are compared to each other could be an extension of
the segmentation that is already done. The collection of data can facilitate strategy
formulation and greater trade between countries.
Remarks:–Is there a more recent data available especially for food crises in the OIC?
Answer: There is an unfortunate shortcoming of existing data. In the report, the research
team exerted its efforts to provide the most granular picture for the OIC and used the
most recent data available.
Question: How the investments can be enhanced given the fact that many countries don’t
have the right ecosystem?
Answer: Investment climates vary from country to country, and some high potential
countries are not yet fully open to foreign investments. While more detailed strategies
need to be formulated, it was observed that a combination of factors can make markets
more open and investable – notably, backing of sovereign wealth funds, cross-
collaboration of government departments, and the existence of supportive international
partners.
Question: How the collection of Zakat with full cooperation from the governments of OIC
countries is ensured? ? Since Zakat is typically collected and distributed domestically.
Answer: It is true that Zakat is collected and preferably distributed domestically.
However, it was seen a powerful impact with organizations such as UNHCR and UNICEF
obtaining Sharia approvals and establishing Zakat Funds – such organizations can make a
substantial difference in distributing funds to those most in need and to alleviating the
plight of those facing active food crises. The UNHCR’s experience is particularly
enlightening – raising $38 million in the first half of 2019, and distributing to over 5,000
refugee families.