Dr. Salim Al-Malik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Mr. George Kallas, Minister of Youth and Sports of the Lebanese Republic, and discussed ways to develop cooperation between ICESCO and Lebanon in the fields of building youth capacities and capitalizing on sports to entrench the values of coexistence and peace and support vulnerable groups.

During the meeting, which took place on 8 October 2023 in the Egyptian capital, Cairo, Dr. Al-Malik thanked Mr. Kallas for accepting the invitation to attend the launch of ICESCO’s Year of Youth, stating that the Organization places youth issues at the heart of its priorities given their key role in achieving development in their communities adding that ICESCO, through its programs and projects, seeks to harness the potentials offered by sport to enhance social cohesion and improve the lives of the neediest groups in its Member States.

For his part, the Lebanese Minister commended the roles played by ICESCO in supporting youth, stressing Lebanon’s keenness to build fruitful cooperation with the Organization in this area. Mr. Kallas invited ICESCO Director General to visit Lebanon, an invitation which Dr. Al-Malik accepted and promised to pay a visit to Lebanon as soon as possible.

At the conclusion of the meeting, the two sides agreed to continue communication and coordination to agree on cooperation between ICESCO and the Lebanese Ministry of Youth and Sports in a number of programs and projects which cover areas of common interest.