Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of The Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Mr. Othman Al-Ferdaous, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports in Morocco, explored cooperation prospects between the Organization and the Ministry in the fields of culture and heritage as well as the co-organization of several cultural events.  

During the meeting, held on Wednesday, June 23, 2021, at the Ministry’s headquarters in Rabat, the two parties reviewed the progress of several cultural and heritage projects that ICESCO is implementing in cooperation with the competent authorities in Morocco. These include the Museum of Intangible Heritage in Jamaâ El Fna Square in Marrakech and the restoration of some Moroccan historic landmarks.

Dr. Abdelilah Benarfa, ICESCO Deputy DG, and Dr. Mohamed Zine El Abidine, Head of the Culture and Communication Sector at the Organization, attended the meeting, which focused on co-organization of cultural events. The meeting also discussed ICESCO’s participation in the 2022 International Tan-Tan Festival for Camels and Desert Culture, an event that is inscribed on both the Islamic World Intangible Heritage List and the World Heritage List.

The two parties discussed the key aspects of the cooperation agreement that they agreed to sign soon and stressed the importance of inscribing other Moroccan heritage sites and elements on ICESCO’s Islamic World Tangible and Intangible Heritage List.