His Excellency Mr. Dharam Gokhool, President of the Republic of Mauritius, received Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), at the Presidential Palace (The State House) in the capital, Port Louis, on Monday, January 20, 2025. The two parties discussed prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and Mauritius in areas of common interest.

At the beginning of the meeting, Dr. AlMalik conveyed his congratulations to President Gokhool for the trust placed in him by the National Assembly of Mauritius (the Parliament), reflected in his unanimous election as President of the Republic on December 6, 2024, and wished him success in serving his country.

Dr. AlMalik also commended the Mauritian competent authorities’ keenness to promote the country’s linguistic and cultural plurality and their cooperation to ensure the success of the pioneering “Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers Curriculum Support Project,” officially launched on January 18, 2025, funded by the Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Foundation and organized in cooperation with the Blue Crescent Society in Mauritius.

Likewise, the Director-General highlighted the key aspects of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations, which emphasize openness and cooperation with all parties in the fields of education, science, and culture, in service of humanity. He added that this openness is demonstrated by providing non-Member States the opportunity to join ICESCO as Observers, launching leading initiatives to build young people’s capacities, promoting innovation, and fostering the values of coexistence, peace, and civilizational dialogue.

For his part, President Gokhool commended ICESCO’s roles and the implementation of the “Arabic for Non-Arabic Speakers Curriculum Support Project” in Mauritius, reaffirming his commitment to promoting cooperation with ICESCO.

The two parties agreed to sustain coordination to establish cooperation mechanisms and plan for the upcoming period.

At the close of the meeting, the Director-General presented the President of the Republic of Mauritius with the Organization’s Shield.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Sheikh Ghulam Mohammad, Secretary-General of the Blue Crescent Society of Mauritius, and Mr. Mukhtar Ahmed from the Ministry of Education and Human Resources.