Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Lyeo Woon-ki, President of the Korea-Africa Foundation (KAF), to discuss prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Foundation in the areas of youth training, capacity-building and entrepreneurship.

During the meeting at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the key components of the Organization’s vision and action strategy, which adopts an open-door approach to all stakeholders to establish partnerships for the benefit of Member States in its fields of action. The DG further stressed that ICESCO accords special importance to the African continent, through its constructive partnerships in the areas of social and economic development, capacity-building of women, girls and youth, training in leadership for peace and security, and promoting entrepreneurship.

He mentioned ICESCO’s most important initiatives, programs and activities launched and implemented since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, in cooperation with several donor institutions and in coordination with the competent authorities in the Member States, to address the negative repercussions of the pandemic, especially in the fields of education, science and culture.

For his part, Mr. Lyeo Woon-ki, commended ICESCO’s roles, its support to its Member States in its fields of competence, and the particular importance the organization accords to youth capacity-building. He reviewed the implemented KAF activities in the African continent.

He also underscored that the meeting is a great opportunity to build fruitful cooperation between KAF and ICESCO, based on innovative pioneering programs that are being implemented, to strengthen the roles of young people, provide them with future skills and improve their conditions in the African continent, to contribute to achieving sustainable development for their countries.