Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received on Wednesday, 2 July 2025, Taha Ayhan, President of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), and Rasul Umarov, Director General of the ICYF, along with their accompanying delegation, at the Organization’s headquarters, in Rabat. The two parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding to empower youth and enhance their capacities and skills to develop the Muslim societies.

Dr. AlMalik and Mr. Ayhan signed the MoU, in the presence of Dr. Ahmed Said Bah, Advisor to ICESCO Director General, Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO’s Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Dr. Rahel Qamar, Head of ICESCO’s Science and Environment Sector, as well as Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Assistant to the Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan.

The MoU provides for cooperation on a number of initiatives, programs and projects on learning management systems, ICESCO’s Young Peace Ambassadors Program, the Kazan World Youth Summit, promoting cultural dialogue among youth in the Islamic world, as well as projects in the fields of culture and art, environment, and economic empowerment.

During the meeting, Dr. AlMalik expressed his happiness at the MoU signing, highlighting the Organization’s efforts in enhancing the roles of youth and strengthening their competencies given their potential as a great power. He also pointed out that ICESCO pays great attention to youth, who represents 45% of its workforce, which has earned it the nickname “The Young Organization”.

ICESCO Director General also reviewed a set of youth-oriented programs implemented in Member States, which are tailored to the needs and specificities of each country, most notably the Young Professionals Program and the Youth Training Program to develop small technology and innovation projects.

For his part, Mr. Taha Ayhan commended the efforts of ICESCO, under the leadership of its Director General, reviewed the ICYF’s ambitious programs for world youth, and underscored the Forum’s keenness to continue cooperation with ICESCO in this regard, stressing that the MoU signing marks the beginning of future fruitful cooperation between the two parties.