Proceedings of the second day of the 14th General Conference of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), hosted by the Arab Republic of Egypt, under the patronage of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, kicked off today, December 9, 2021, with the participation of forty-nine (49) out of ICESCO’s fifty-one (51) Member States.

The agenda of the second and last day of the Conference includes several working sessions on issues relating to education, science, technology and culture, and features addresses by the heads of the participating delegations. It also includes the approval of the members of the ICESCO Executive Council and the decisions adopted by the Executive Council’s 40th, 41st and 42nd sessions, as well as the determination of the time and venue of the 15th Session of the ICESCO General Conference.

The Conference kicked off on Wednesday, December 8, 2021, with an opening session, during which Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, President of the Egyptian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, delivered an address wherein he welcomed the participating delegations, wishing for a successful Conference that would hopefully yield outcomes leading to further development in the Islamic world and the promotion of its role in leading the educational, scientific, cultural and technological fields.

The Egyptian Minister expressed his great confidence in ICESCO’s wise decisions and ability to expand its impact and multiply its achievements. He also praised the Organization’s approach of modernization and development towards its Member States, noting that the Conference is a good opportunity to strengthen bonds of cordiality and fraternity between the leaders and peoples of the Islamic world.

In his address, Dr. Ali Zeidan Abu Zuhri, President of the Palestinian National Commission for Education, Science and Culture, President of the 13th General Conference of ICESCO, commended the Organization’s pivotal role and diligent efforts in meeting its Member States’ needs in the educational, scientific and cultural fields. “ICESCO was able to harmonize and coordinate the efforts of Muslim countries. It succeeded in reinforcing cooperation among them on the development of innovation and the exchange of knowledge and expertise in the fields of artificial intelligence applications and modern science,” added Dr. Abu Zuhri.

He also hailed the Organization’s programmes and projects for the benefit of the State of Palestine and Al-Quds, and the inscription of Palestinian monuments and landmarks on ICESCO’s Islamic World Heritage List.

In his address, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director-General, reiterated his gratitude and appreciation to President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of the Arab Republic of Egypt, and Dr. Khaled Abdel Ghaffar, for hosting ICESCO’s 42nd Executive Council and 14th General Conference. He extended his heartfelt thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, and the Crown Prince, for nominating him for the post of the Director-General of ICESCO, thanking all Member States for their trust.

Dr. AlMalik reviewed the initiatives through which the Organization has made a difference by supporting Member States’ efforts in the fields of education, science and culture, instituting profound structural reforms, and crafting a strategic vision that enabled ICESCO to become a leading Organization at the international arena. “ICESCO has undertaken several developmental measures, most notably the amendment of its Charter, Internal Regulations and Organizational Structure, and the elaboration of the task descriptions of its sectors, departments and centers as well as the job descriptions of its staff members. ICESCO has also attracted highly qualified competencies, creating a legal department in charge of controlling the Organization’s working procedures using an institutional and rights-based approach, digitizing the working system, modernizing its mechanisms in accordance with transparency and quality standards, developing the Organization’s media department, in addition to establishing specialized centers for capacity building in ICESCO’s fields of competence,” noted ICESCO DG.

In conclusion, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the international certifications and prizes that ICESCO has recently received, noting that they represent powerful incentives to intensify improvement and development efforts to serve the Member States and contribute to the fulfillment of their peoples’ aspirations for sustainable development and prosperity.

ICESCO signed a set of partnership and cooperation agreements with different partners and awarded the ICESCO-Hamdan Prize for the Development of Education Facilities in the Islamic World to the winners.