The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) took part in the coordination meeting with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture and the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture as part of celebrating Cairo as Islamic World Capital of Culture for 2020 for the Arab region, on 2-3 February 2020 as part of the preparation for this event.

During the meeting, ICESCO coordinated with the relevant Egyptian authorities to prepare the programme of the celebration and discuss on the activities and events to be organized jointly with the Arab Republic of Egypt throughout this year. The two parties also agreed to launch the official ceremony of the celebration on 5 April 2020, in the presence of H.E. Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General.

On 03 February at the Cairo International Book Fair, the Egyptian Ministry of Culture held a press conference to announce the broad lines of the celebration. In this regard, Dr. Inas Abdel-Dayem, Egyptian Minister of Culture, and Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture at ICESCO, announced the launch of the event soon after the close of the 40^th ICESCO Executive Council which adopted several amendments necessary for the implementation of the Organization’s new strategic vision, including the new modified name of “Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization”.

The celebration marks the actual begining of the strategic shift in ICESCO’s vision since Cairo is the embodiment of this new vision given its long history of coexistence and tolerance between religions, cultures and ethnicities.

ICESCO was represented in the meeting by Mr. Najib Rhiati, Director of Culture; Abdelilah Benarafa, Cultural Advisor to Director General; and Dr. Osama Elnahas, Programme Specialist.