Category: News

Rabat: 06/02/2025

Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mr. Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Iraq, on Thursday, 6 February 2025, at ICESCO headquarters in Rabat. The two sides discussed ways to enhance joint cooperation in the fields of preserving and valuing heritage and protecting cultural property, Arabic calligraphy, and manuscripts.

During the meeting, which was attended by Dr. Bhutan Dizayee, Chargé d’Affaires at the Embassy of the Republic of Iraq in Rabat, Dr. AlMalik reviewed the Organization’s vision and strategic orientations and the most prominent programs and initiatives it implements in its fields of competence for the benefit of its Member States, noting that in recent years, the Organization has added to its areas of action new topics such as artificial intelligence, environmental protection, and space sciences and their applications.

ICESCO Director-General highlighted the Organization’s efforts to inscribe the Islamic world heritage through its Islamic World Heritage Center, to protect cultural properties and heritage elements from damage, looting, and illicit trafficking by documenting them, building the capacity of workers in the field, and employing the latest relevant technologies.

Dr. AlMalik expressed the Organization’s readiness to cooperate with Iraq in the field of Arabic calligraphy in light of ICESCO’s interest in manuscripts, as an authentic cultural and artistic heritage that should be publicized and preserved for future generations, given the various challenges it faces.

For his part, Mr. Hussein stressed the importance of cooperation between ICESCO and Iraq in developing the intellectual and cultural movement to confront extremist ideas and protect the heritage and civilization of the Islamic world, noting that the Ministry has adopted the concepts of cultural diplomacy and recovery diplomacy as two soft powers to preserve and value Iraq’s rich heritage.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, ICESCO Deputy Director-General; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; Mr. Mohamed Hedi Shili, Director of the Department of Legal Affairs and International Standards; and Dr. Idham Hanash, expert at the Culture Sector.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Sherif Sedky, CEO of the Egyptian Space Agency, to explore prospects for cooperation in the coming period. Their discussions focused on harnessing space sciences and their applications to support sustainable development efforts, address current challenges, and implement training programs for youth from the Islamic world in Egypt in the field of space technology.

Dr. AlMalik opened the meeting, which took place on Thursday, February 6, 2025, at ICESCO’s headquarters in Rabat, by commending the Organization’s strong commitment to advancing space sciences in its Member States. He highlighted ICESCO’s efforts to foster international partnerships in the space industry with prestigious institutions and research centers, including the American Space Foundation and space agencies in Pakistan and Azerbaijan.

The ICESCO Director-General also reviewed key initiatives and programs implemented by the Organization in the field of space science and its applications, most notably the establishment of a specialized Space Sciences Department and the organization of a series of training workshops on the CanSat satellite model, which have already been conducted in three Islamic countries. Additionally, he expressed ICESCO’s willingness to implement the program in Egypt in collaboration with the Egyptian Space Agency.

For his part, Dr. Sedky outlined the Agency’s efforts in developing space technology in Egypt and several African countries through various research programs. He extended an invitation to Dr. AlMalik to visit the Agency’s headquarters in Cairo to discuss the implementation of projects aimed at integrating space sciences into university curricula in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields across the Islamic world.

The meeting also included discussions on signing a cooperation agreement between the two parties in the near future to launch training programs and workshops on space sciences and their applications in sustainable development efforts and addressing urgent global challenges.

The meeting saw the attendance of Dr. Raheel Qamar, Head of the Science and Environment Sector; Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Media and Communication Sector; and Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Science and Environment Sector.

On Wednesday, February 5, 2025, the first Africa-Middle East Space Conference (AMESC 2025) officially launched, organized in partnership between the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and the Moroccan Initiative for Space Industry (MISI), and hosted by Mohammed VI Polytechnic University in Morocco. The four-day conference will bring together world-class space institutions, including NASA and the European Space Agency, as well as emerging regional agencies, to explore ways of harnessing space science to promote economic and social development.

At the opening session, attended by Mr. Ryad Mezzour, Minister of Industry and Trade of the Kingdom of Morocco, Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, ICESCO Director General, emphasized that the rapid evolution of space science and technology offers unprecedented opportunities to address some of the most pressing challenges of our time, from climate change and food security to disaster management and telecommunications.

Dr. AlMalik also noted that ICESCO considers space science a powerful tool for sustainable development and is actively committed to its promotion, notably through the creation of a department specializing in space science and the organization of major events such as the International Symposium on Space, the International Aerospace Forum, and training workshops dedicated to the CanSat model satellite.

ICESCO’s Director General concluded by stating that Africa and the Middle East have immense potential for space research and innovation and that this conference highlights the importance of harnessing these resources for the benefit of humanity.

The conference sessions will be led by space science experts and specialists. The first day is dedicated to international partnerships and regional perspectives for the development of the field, while the following three days will focus on mechanisms for strengthening opportunities in the space industry, the development of space education and capacity building for professionals, as well as innovation and the future of space science.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarafa, Deputy Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), participated in the 17th edition of the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature 2025. The festival, held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates and Ruler of Dubai, runs from January 29 to February 3, 2025.

Organized by the Emirates Literature Foundation in partnership with Emirates Airlines and the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the festival celebrates the achievements of intellectuals and creatives through a series of thought-provoking activities. This year’s edition features more than 200 events, including discussions, panels, and literary and intellectual gatherings.

During the festival’s opening session, Dr. Benarafa was honored with the Golden Visa in recognition of his distinguished contributions to literature, thought, and culture, as well as his remarkable literary career.

As part of his visit to the UAE, Dr. Benarafa delivered an academic lecture on Thursday, January 30, 2025, titled “The Role of Literature and Contemporary Narratives in Shaping Epistemological and Civilizational Perspectives.”

Hosted by Al Wasl University in Dubai, the lecture explored various literary and intellectual themes, highlighting the university’s pivotal role in advancing academic research. Dr. Benarafa also shared insights into his literary journey, particularly in novel writing, engaging students and attendees in discussions that foster knowledge exchange and contribute to their academic and professional growth.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Shaya Mohsin Zindani, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates of the Republic of Yemen, and together they explored ways to promote the special partnership relations between ICESCO and Yemen in areas of common interest.

At the beginning of the meeting, held on Thursday, January 30, 2025, in the presence of Amb. Ezzedin Al-Asbahi, Ambassador of Yemen to Morocco, Dr. AlMalik highlighted the Organization’s efforts to implement a series of diverse programs and projects in Yemen, in line with the priorities of the relevant Yemeni authorities. He also cast light on a number of successful programs implemented by the Organization in the country, in cooperation with international and local institutions, including the Girl Dropout School Reintegration Project, benefiting 19,000 girls.

For his part, the Yemeni Minister commended ICESCO’s efforts to serve its Member States, noting that the Organization have made major strides in the past five years, through quality work within its areas of competence.
Dr. Al-Zindani also reviewed his country’s efforts, despite the challenges, to identify needs in the educational, cultural and scientific fields, expressing Yemen’s need to strengthen cooperation with ICESCO.

In this context, Dr. AlMalik stressed that ICESCO places a high priority on meeting the needs of Yemen, expressing its readiness to welcome young men and women to receive training at its headquarters, and to hold specialized training workshops for them, both inside and outside Yemen.

The DG conveyed the Organization’s readiness to help assess the damage to Yemeni educational, cultural and heritage sites and institutions and issue a technical report in this regard.

The meeting was attended by Dr. Mohamed Zinealabidine, Head of the Culture Sector, Mr. Osama Heikal, Head of the Sector of Media and Communication, and Amb. Khalid Fathalrahman, Head of the Center for Civilizational Dialogue.