AlMalik Thanks the Rais for Hosting the Organization’s General Conference and Confirms ICESCO’s Readiness to Launch the Tuqay Cultural Award

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with His Excellency Rustam Minnikhanov, Rais of the Republic of Tatarstan in the Russian Federation, on the sidelines of the 15th session of ICESCO’s General Conference. During the meeting, the two sides discussed ways to cooperate in ensuring the success of the celebration of Kazan as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World for 2026, as well as building youth capacity in the field of entrepreneurship.

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, 13 May 2026, in the capital, Kazan, Dr. AlMalik expressed his deepest gratitude to Rais Minnikhanov for his country’s hosting of the Organization’s General Conference, noting that the proceedings were conducted in a manner befitting Tatarstan’s status as a cultural bridge between the Islamic world and Russia.

Dr. AlMalik reaffirmed ICESCO’s readiness to launch a cultural award named after the Tatarstani thinker, writer, and poet Ğabdulla Tuqay, and to collaborate on the preparation of a special program to celebrate the city of Kazan during the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit, due to be held next June. He also affirmed ICESCO’s commitment to cooperate in implementing the Organization’s program for training youth on how to start small projects in the fields of technology and innovation in Tatarstan, in parallel with the Kazan Global Youth Summit.

For his part, His Excellency Rais Minnikhanov expressed his appreciation for the selection of Kazan as the Culture Capital in the Islamic World, noting that this would contribute to highlighting the city’s cultural heritage and rich history.

The two sides discussed mechanisms for establishing a regional ICESCO center in Kazan and the Organization’s participation as a strategic partner in organizing the annual meeting of the “Russia–Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group.

The meeting was attended on the ICESCO side by Dr. Abdellilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General, and Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector. Representing the Tatar side were Ms. Liliia Fazlieva, Deputy Prime Minister; Ms. Irada Ayupova, Minister of Culture; Mr. Marat Gatin, Assistant to the Rais and Deputy Chairman of the “Russia–Islamic World” Strategic Vision Group; and Mr. Timur Suleymanov, Assistant to the Rais for International Relations.