Responding to an invitation from the Islamic Development Bank Group (IsDB Group), Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), headed a delegation from the Organization during the proceedings of the annual meetings of the IsDB Group for 2024, hosted by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in Riyadh, under the patronage of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud. The meetings commenced today, Saturday April 27, 2024, and will continue until the 30th, coinciding with the golden jubilee celebration of the IsDB, marking 50 years since its establishment.

This year’s meetings are held under the theme: “Cherishing our Past, Charting our Future: Originality, Solidarity, and Prosperity,” with the high-level attendance of ministers of economy, planning, and finance from the Bank’s Member States, as well as representatives of various financial institutions, Islamic banks, the private sector, development agencies, and international and regional organizations.

ICESCO’s participation in these meetings comes within the framework of the strong and robust partnership it shares with the IsDB Group, and its commitment to deepening this effective partnership in service of its Member States, in areas of mutual expertise, and in support of developmental programs in the Islamic world, engaging its youth in development and equipping them with the necessary future leadership skills in the fields of education, science, and culture.

The annual meetings of the Islamic Development Bank Group aim to provide a global platform for decision-makers to discuss the most pressing economic challenges facing Islamic countries, and to explore current and future opportunities to advance social and economic development in these countries, through organizing a series of seminars, sessions, and meetings focusing on social and economic development, as well as regional and international cooperation.

The delegation from ICESCO participating in this year’s meetings includes Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Dinara Guliyeva, an expert in the sector.