Category: Director General

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Jamal bin Huwairib, CEO of Mohamed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF), and together they explored prospects of cooperation in areas of common interest.

During the meeting held today, December 20, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of several ICESCO’s heads of sectors and departments and Dr. Huwairib’s accompanying delegation, the two parties reaffirmed their keenness to promote cooperation, which had already been set into motion even before signing the cooperation agreement.

They also discussed cooperation in some fields notably, the Foresight Report: Future of Knowledge, annually issued by the Foundation and the UN Development Programme (UNDP), which features recommendations for decision-makers to support countries in building cooperation and innovation capacities.

The meeting also focused on the importance of the participation of all ICESCO Member States in this report, as the number currently stands at only 37 countries, given the significance of their participation in such indexes to assess and diagnose the challenges facing them as a first step towards overcoming them. The two parties also stressed the need for accurate and updated information supported by figures and statistics.

The two parties also discussed cooperation proposals in the field of Arabic to promote its presence on the international scene, particularly in the Islamic world, through finding commonalities between countries’ local languages and Arabic. The meeting also suggested the design of a joint action program that relies on modern communication technology to target young people; and the expansion of the Foundation’s program to train authors to include all the countries of the Islamic world.

At the close of the meeting, the two parties agreed to hold expert meetings to devise executive plans between ICESCO and the Foundation.

Following the meeting, Dr. AlMalik took Dr. Bin Huwairib and his delegation on a tour of the Museum and Exhibition of the Prophet’s Seerah and Islamic Civilization, currently hosted at ICESCO Headquarters. The Foundation delegation received a detailed presentation of the various sections and pavilions.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), held a meeting with Mrs. Buthaina bint Ali Al Jabr Al Nuaimi, Minister of Education and Higher Education of the State of Qatar, and together discussed developments in cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar and reviewed the programmes to be jointly implemented in the fields of education and higher education.

During the meeting, which was held on Thursday, December 15, 2022, in Doha, Dr. AlMalik congratulated the Minister on Qatar’s successful hosting of the 2022 FIFA World Cup, underlining the need to capitalize on the benefits that the country has reaped from organizing the global tournament and harness them to advance education and culture.

ICESCO DG reviewed the major projects currently implemented by the Organization, emphasizing youth-oriented programmes, most notably capacity-building workshops, and training programmes in technology and innovation entrepreneurship and leadership for peace and security, as well as scholarships.

For her part, the Qatari minister provided an overview of Qatar’s strategic vision in the field of education and higher education and the progress achieved in the implementation plans, expressing the Ministry’s keenness to foster partnership and cooperation with ICESCO.

The meeting touched upon means for leveraging the outcomes of the Transforming Education Summit, which was held by the United Nations at its headquarters in New York in September 2022, and saw the distinguished participation of the State of Qatar and ICESCO. The event was aimed at mobilizing action, ambition, solidarity and solutions to recover pandemic-related learning losses and reimagine the future of education.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), stressed the need for unified visions and cooperation between regional and international organizations to ensure their success, highlighting the structural shifts in self-awareness, international developments and the organizations’ experiences, which have led to the successful management of international affairs with confidence.

This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address delivered on Monday (December 12, 2022), at the two-day Forum on “Organizations from Local to Global,” organized by the Qatari Ministry of Culture, in Doha, under the theme: “Our strength in our unity,” as part of the activities of the National Day of the State of Qatar, in Darb Al Saai, with the participation of high-level ministers, officials and heads of several international organizations and institutions.

ICESCO Director-General added that Qatar’s hosting of the World Cup is conclusive evidence that success is the outcome of sound visions, good management and creativity, considering that this success is a civilizational achievement.

Furthermore, he pointed out that the transition from local to global in organizations’ fields of action requires overcoming internal performance obstacles that give rise to the question of reform and the transformations of the international pattern through the communications revolution, which has become a guide of human progress and providing more opportunities for young people to meet their aspirations. “We should liberate organizations from the dominance of politics, promote social and educational issues, and strengthen cooperation and synergy between organizations to ensure mutual understanding, dialogue and civilizational alliance, reduce violence, hatred and intolerance, and confront pandemics, climate change, migration and crimes,” added Dr. AlMalik.

Dr. Al-Malik also reviewed the strategic orientations of ICESCO in fulfilling its vision, which draws on the civilizational potentials of the Islamic world and responds to the aspirations of Muslim people for reform, explaining that the pattern of structural and conceptual renewal prevails at ICESCO and that the Organization’s efforts are strengthened through cooperation with various organizations, including the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, the League of Arab States, ALECSO, the US Space Foundation and other international partners.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Pope Francis met to discuss cooperation between ICESCO and the Vatican in promoting peace, civilizational dialogue and the values of coexistence and tolerance.

At the start of the meeting, which took place on Saturday, December 10, 2022, in the private library where he holds his official meetings, Pope Francis welcomed Dr. AlMalik and his accompanying delegation. ICESCO’s Director-General commended the Pope’s role in promoting tolerance and understanding among the followers of different religions and cultures. He emphasized that ICESCO’s new vision and strategic orientations place peace-building, co-existence and civilizational dialogue at the core of its priorities and that the Organization is open to cooperation with stakeholders to support the development of the fields of education, science and culture, in a way that serves humanity and helps to address future challenges. This was reflected in the opening of membership for non-member states to join ICESCO as observers, for further cooperation and exchange of experiences with the countries of the Islamic world.

ICESCO’s Director-General pointed out that the Organization seeks to achieve its objectives through the launching and implementation of several concrete initiatives, programs and projects with tangible results for the benefit of youth and women in the African continent, including the Leadership Training in Peace and Security Program (80 ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace from Member and Non-Member States have benefited from this program and that the Organization aspires to train 500 Ambassadors by 2025).

For his part, the Vatican Pope expressed particular interest and appreciation for the program, noting the possibility of implementing a joint program between ICESCO and the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue for training in peace-building and the promotion of the values of brotherhood and tolerance. He also welcomed Dr. AlMalik’s proposal to receive a group of young ICESCO Ambassadors for Peace at the Vatican, or during the World Youth Day in Lisbon celebration in July 2023, a year that the Organization will proclaim as the Year of Youth.

ICESCO’s Director-General seized this opportunity to present the Organization’s shield to the Vatican Pope, as well as a copy of the book “Peace 360: Exploring the Dimensions of Peace,” which was recently published by the Organization. For his part, Pope Francis presented Dr. AlMalik with his autographed encyclical letter “All Brothers” and a commemorative medal on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of his appointment.

Pope Francis commended ICESCO’s efforts, expressing his willingness to strengthen cooperation between the Vatican and the Organization in consolidating peace and promoting coexistence and civilizational dialogue.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Yahya Pallavicini, ICESCO Goodwill Ambassador, and Ms. Somia Djacta, Head of ICESCO Office at UNESCO.

The Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Ministry of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for cooperation in the field of culture, aimed at intensifying consultation in the field of tangible and intangible cultural heritage, and enhancing joint international cooperation in inscribing natural and historical sites and cultural elements on the Islamic World Heritage List.

The MoU was signed today, Wednesday (7 September 2022) in Riyadh by Dr. Salim Al-Malik, ICESCO Director-General, and His Highness Prince Badr bin Abdullah bin Farhan Al Saud, Minister of Culture in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Chairman of the National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, during their attendance at the 23rd session of the Conference of Ministers in charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World.

The MoU covers cooperation between ICESCO and the Saudi Ministry of Culture in the fields of teaching the Arabic language and promoting its presence internationally, giving greater attention to literature, translation, publishing and libraries, and to the exchange of expertise and experiences in the field of visual arts, architecture, design and Islamic decorations, digitization of culture, creative industries, sustainable development and culture-related creative economy.

The MoU also specifies the means of implementing cooperation through exchanging official delegations and experts in various cultural fields, the establishment of training programs and work sessions to develop skills, organizing seminars for specialists, and setting up a joint working group that undertakes the tasks of setting action plans and following up their implementation, and overcoming the difficulties and obstacles facing them.

This agreement is part of ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientation for cooperation with the competent authorities in the Member States to support the fields of culture, especially those related to enhancing the presence of the Arabic language at the international level, benefiting from the specialists’ know-how, strengthening cooperation between experts and researchers, capitalizing on and developing successful experiences.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), underlined that ministers in charge of cultural affairs assume significant responsibilities to position culture at the heart of sustainable development, raise future generations of culture enthusiasts, and open up to the global environment, while preserving and celebrating its distinct identity. He added that the culture ministers are also responsible for keeping up with the latest trends of the digital revolution, noting that culture is not a luxury but rather an essential prerequisite for paving the way for our societies to build the future.

Dr. AlMalik made this statement in his address on Wednesday, December 7, 2022, during the opening session of the 23rd Session of the Conference of Ministers in Charge of Cultural Affairs in the Arab World, held under the theme, “Culture and the Green Future.” The two-day conference is held by the Arab League Educational, Cultural and Scientific Organization (ALECSO) and is hosted by the Saudi Ministry of Culture in Riyadh.

At the beginning of his address, Dr. AlMalik hailed the conference, expressing his thanks to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz, may Allah preserve him, the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi Government for the special attention they accord to culture and culture enthusiasts.

Moreover, the Director-General highlighted the importance of culture in humanitarian work, given its ability to raise hopes, promote fraternity and spread the values of charity through policies carefully drafted to foster unity. He also called for preparing an empirical study on the reality and future of the cultural world in the Islamic world countries, setting up a committee to explore the prospects of cooperation in organizations concerned with cultural work, and creating cultural centers. He also urged Member States’ governments to raise the share of cultural work in their general budgets, encourage young cultural initiatives and cooperate to devise the proper policies to capitalize on the information and AI applications technology in cultural work.

The ICESCO Director-General concluded his address by reiterating ICESCO’s commitment as a global house of expertise to support culture in its Member States, seizing the opportunity to cast light on the Organization’s programs and initiatives, partnerships and agreements to preserve heritage sites and specialized training sessions to build capacities to ensure cultural sustainability.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Dr. Fuad Hussein, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Iraq, at the Ministry’s headquarters, in Baghdad, on Sunday (December 4, 2022), following their participation in the 6th Forum of Ancient Civilizations, held in Baghdad, under the auspices of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

During this meeting, Dr. AlMalik appreciated the organization of this Forum in Iraq, which aims to enhance communication and experience sharing between different peoples and cultures, preserve world heritage, and pay attention to historical and cultural tourism given its importance in achieving sustainable development.

He also stressed that ICESCO, within the framework of its new vision and strategic orientations, adopts the approach of openness to all parties for establishing partnerships to serve its Member States and Muslim communities around the world, noting that ICESCO and Iraq have close and distinguished relations, which the Organization is keen to strengthen.

For his part, the Iraqi Foreign Affairs Minister commended ICESCO’s efforts and the proposals included in the Director General’s address before the Forum of Ancient Civilizations to confront illicit trafficking in cultural property and retrieve stolen ones, as well as his announcement of ICESCO’s intention to establish an academic chair in an Iraqi university in the field of ancient civilizations.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), called for renewing the historical and civilizational curricula in universities in line with scientific development and paying special attention to youth initiatives to help young people express the visions of future generation regarding their ancient civilizations and benefit from the developments in artificial intelligence to discover the treasures of those civilizations.

This statement was part of Dr. AlMalik’s address, delivered on Sunday (December 4, 2022), at the opening of the 6th Forum of Ancient Civilizations, held in Baghdad, under the auspices of the Iraqi Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Forum brought together the representatives of Iraq, Egypt, Greece, China, Iran, Italy, Peru, Bolivia and Mexico, and witnessed the participation of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, Fuad Hussein, and the representatives of Arab and foreign international and diplomatic missions, most notably Mr. Miguel Ángel Moratinos, High Representative for the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC).

Dr. Al-Malik appreciated the organization of this Forum in Iraq while the world is going through conditions that threaten human civilizations and the survival of mankind, noting that Allah Almighty has honored mankind and brought him to Earth as he is the only creature qualified to preserve civilizational values, mainly ‘coexistence,’ which connects cultures, spreads the spirit of dialogue and prevents civilizational clashes.

He also pointed out that the world is awakening through concepts that enhance people’s understanding and solidarity to face the calls for hatred and racism, and the escalation of war economies, which are based on the high production and sale of weapons that interrupt human development, considering that such threats include crimes of theft and illicit trafficking of cultural property as well as the narrow interests policies that threaten the treasures of humanity through the depletion of natural resources.

ICESCO Director-General reaffirmed that the Organization is aware of the need to mobilize efforts to preserve the most valuable properties of humanity, explaining that ICESCO established the Center for Civilizational Dialogue to keep pace with the relevant aspirations and held a virtual conference that brought together the ministers of culture, tourism and antiquities, and discussed the most effective ways to reduce the risk of illicit trafficking in cultural property. “ICESCO also held an International Conference on the Civilizational Values in the Prophet’s Seerah, which saw the participation of world leaders, and concluded with the approval of the “Day of Mercy” as an international day. Besides, ICESCO signed an agreement with the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities during COP27 to support the use of clean energy in heritage sites, and established the fund for the preservation of heritage sites from climate change, calling on the international community to join its race of civilizational creativity,” added Dr. AlMalik.

Moreover, he declared ICESCO’s intention to establish a special academic chair in an Iraqi university to stimulate studies and research on ancient civilizations and meet the Organization’s plan for the inscription of heritage sites.

ICESCO Director-General concluded his address with poetic verses on Baghdad, the city of civilization and history.