The Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, and the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Morocco, Mr. Oktay Sudef Ogly Gurbanov, examined ways to develop sustainable cooperation between ICESCO and Azerbaijan.

On Tuesday, Dr. AlMalik thanked Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev and its government for their unwavering support to ICESCO. He noted that Azerbaijan was one of the first countries to join the “Comprehensive Humanitarian Coalition” that supports the most vulnerable countries to COVID-19 impacts.

The DG reviewed ICESCO’s major initiatives to bolster the efforts to reduce its repercussions of the pandemic on education, science, and culture. The Organization, in cooperation with donors, assisted 24 countries. The financial and technological aid contributed to the continuity of schooling and enhanced the beneficiaries’ digital educational content.

The Organization also distributed medical equipment and COVID-19 protective kits to other 10 countries.  The Organization also granted financial assistance and training sessions to set up best-cost sanitizers production units.

The talks also centered on the ICESCO’s specialized centers in strategic foresight, artificial intelligence, Arabic courses for non-native speakers, cultural dialogue, and diversity.

 The Organization also created the Heritage Center to inscribe historical sites in Member States and their intangible heritage on the Islamic World Heritage List (IWHL). The center equally trains heritage professionals on inscription procedures and landmarks restoration and preservation.

The two parties touched on the DG’s postponed visit to Azerbaijan amid the pandemic. Dr. AlMalik will resume a rescheduled plan soon, he added.

The Azerbaijani Ambassador commended ICESCO’s initiatives during the outbreak, while reaffirming his country’s willingness to maintain excellent cooperation with the Organization, namely in the inscription of heritage.