Category: News

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Ms. Dima Al-Khatib, Director of the United Nations Office for South-South Cooperation (UNOSSC), at ICESCO’s pavilion during COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, to explore ways of strengthening collaboration in areas of shared interest.

During the meeting, held Friday (15 November 2024), Dr. AlMalik affirmed ICESCO’s commitment, through its foresight and strategic orientation, to supporting international efforts to assist the least developed countries in advancing their educational, scientific, and cultural systems. He highlighted various initiatives, programs, and projects aimed particularly at building the capacities of women and youth, preparing them for future professions, fostering entrepreneurship, encouraging investment in modern technology and artificial intelligence applications, and promoting values of coexistence, peace, and intercultural dialogue.

Dr. AlMalik also reviewed the key projects currently being implemented by ICESCO, along with the program of activities at the ICESCO pavilion during COP29, and the Organization’s future plans to contribute to a prosperous future for its Member States. Furthermore, he expressed ICESCO’s willingness to establish fruitful cooperation with the UN Office for South-South Cooperation.

Ms. Dima Al-Khatib commended ICESCO’s efforts and contributions to supporting its Member States, expressing UNOSSC’s readiness to collaborate with the Organization.

The meeting also covered ICESCO’s potential participation in the upcoming meetings of the High-level Committee on South-South Cooperation, set to take place in New York in 2025, as well as joint efforts in information exchange on development policies, and ICESCO’s potential membership in the network launched by UNOSSC to achieve this objective.

The meeting was attended by Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of Partnerships and International Cooperation at ICESCO.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met Ms. Leila Benali, Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development of the Kingdom of Morocco, during her visit to ICESCO’s Blue Zone Pavilion at COP29, in Baku, Azerbaijan. The two officials discussed the prospects for cooperation between ICESCO and the Ministry.

During the meeting, held on Thursday (14 November 2024), Dr. Al-Malik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to strengthen its partnership with the Kingdom of Morocco, the seat country, in all fields.

He also reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic orientations as well as its major programs and initiatives, especially in the field of the environment, indicating that the Organization’s participation in international environment-related fora falls within the high priority it attaches to supporting the efforts of its Member States in addressing the climate challenges in the Islamic world.

Moreover, ICESCO DG pointed out that the program of the Organization’s pavilion at COP29 features about 50 diverse activities that tackle the implications of climate change on education, science and culture, and propose solutions to address the relevant challenges.

For her part, the Moroccan Minister of Energy Transition and Sustainable Development commended the role of ICESCO and the diverse activities of the Organization’s pavilion at COP29.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Abdullah bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Subaie, Qatar’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, discussed ways to strengthen cooperation between ICESCO and Qatar in the areas of environmental protection and combating the adverse impacts of climate change.

During the Meeting, held on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, at ICESCO’s pavilion in COP 29, in Baku, Azerbaijan, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and strategic direction, particularly in environmental protection and climate change impact mitigation, and outlined the Organization’s key activities at COP 29.

Dr. AlMalik emphasized ICESCO’s readiness to collaborate with the State of Qatar in implementing joint projects that aim to reduce climate change impacts, promote environmental sustainability, support innovation and green technologies, and enhance environmental awareness and education programs to secure a sustainable future for the Islamic world.

Dr. Al-Subaie, in turn, presented Qatar’s sustainability strategy, which spans several sectors, particularly energy and transportation. This strategy aims to adapt to climate change, protect coastlines, combat desertification, govern water management and reclamation, safeguard biodiversity, build capacities, and mobilize human resources through a series of initiatives and programs.

At the close of the Meeting, both parties agreed to continue coordinating efforts to establish productive collaboration between ICESCO and Qatar’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, develop training programs, and support research initiatives to strengthen climate resilience efforts, in a way that furthers the interests of the Islamic world.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Dr. Muhammad Sulaiman Al Jasser, Chairman of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Group, at ICESCO’s pavilion at COP29, in Baku. The two officials discussed ways to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and IsDB Group in areas of common interest.

During the meeting, which took place on Wednesday, November 13, 2024, Dr. Al-Malik stressed ICESCO’s keenness to develop cooperation with the IsDB Group, especially in the fields of sustainable development, education, innovation support and environmental protection.

He also reviewed the major activities of ICESCO’s pavilion at COP29 and a number of proposed initiatives and programs for cooperation between the two parties to meet the needs of Member States.

For his part, Dr. Al Jasser expressed his admiration for ICESCO’s pavilion at COP29 and its activity program at this major global event. He commended ICESCO’s roles and emphasized the IDB Group’s willingness for cooperation.
At the end of the meeting, Dr. Al-Malik and Dr. Al-Jasser stressed the importance of sustaining coordination between the two parties to develop executive plans for the cooperation programs to be agreed upon.

Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), attended the opening session of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit, inaugurated on Tuesday, November 12, 2024, by His Excellency President Ilham Aliyev, President of the Republic of Azerbaijan. The Event saw high-level participation of heads of state and government leaders from across the globe. The Summit is part of the activities of the 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29), hosted in Baku, Azerbaijan, under the theme “In solidarity for a green world,” from November 11 to 22.

The two-day Summit will discuss mechanisms to strengthen international cooperation for climate financing and support developing countries in addressing the adverse impacts of climate change.

As the most prominent event within the COP29 Conference, the Leaders’ Summit features statements from heads of state and leaders on national efforts and progress toward meeting the Paris Agreement goals, along with discussions on establishing a new climate financing target.

Dr. AlMalik is set to hold several bilateral meetings with senior officials attending the Summit to discuss joint cooperation between ICESCO and other countries and international organizations concerned with climate action, as part of the Organization’s efforts to contribute to combating climate change and its effects.

Within its new vision and strategic directions, ICESCO has placed significant emphasis on environmental issues, launching and implementing several pioneering programs and initiatives across the Islamic world to help its Member States address climate change, protect ecosystems, and enhance food security.

Dr. Salim M. Al-Malik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met H.E. Shavkat Mirziyoyev, President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, following their attendance at the opening of the World Leaders Climate Action Summit (WLCAS), held as part of the Conference of Parties (COP29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), in Baku, Azerbaijan.

At the outset of the meeting, held on Tuesday (12 November 2024), President Mirziyoyev commended ICESCO’s roles in developing the fields of education, science and culture in the Islamic world, stressing his continued support for the efforts aimed at enhancing cooperation between Uzbekistan’s competent parties and ICESCO.

For his part, Dr. Al-Malik expressed his thanks and appreciation to President Mirziyoyev for his keenness to enhance cooperation between ICESCO and Uzbekistan in the Organization’s areas of competence.

Moreover, ICESCO DG, stressed the Organization’s keenness to ensure the success of the celebration of Samarkand, Culture Capital in the Islamic World, in cooperation with the parties concerned in Uzbekistan, and produce a year-long celebration that suits the ancient city and its rich cultural heritage.

The meeting discussed a number of future cooperation programs, most notably the international conference on the biography of Imam al-Bukhari and his writings. The meeting also discussed the importance of forming a joint coordination committee between ICESCO and Uzbekistan.

The meeting saw the presence of Mr. Bakhtiyor Saidov, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uzbekistan, and Mr. Aziz Abdukhakimov, Minister of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change, Chairman of the State Committee for Tourism Development of Uzbekistan, as well as Mr. Anar Karimov, Head of ICESCO Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector.