Dr. Salim AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), met with Dr. Mohammed Bin Saud Al-Tamimi, Governor of the Communications and Information Technology Commission (CITC) and CEO of the Saudi Space Commission (SSC). During the meeting, the two parties explored avenues of cooperation between the Organization and the Commission, in concert with the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science, and discussed means for enhancing cooperation with space authorities in the Islamic world and beyond.

The meeting was held on Wednesday, January 5, 2022, at SSC’s headquarters in Riyadh, in the presence of Engineer Majed Alonazi, Chief Operating Officer at SSC, along with several sector heads in the Commission, and Mr. Hani bin Hamza Mansi, Advisor to the Saudi National Commission for Education, Culture and Science. During the meeting, ICESCO DG emphasized that space science holds a special place in the Organization’s new vision and strategy given the prospects it offers for the future and the tremendous potential of its applications in helping humanity overcome challenges and achieve sustainable development. He also reviewed the upcoming space-related initiatives due to be launched by ICESCO.

Dr. AlMalik noted that the Organization signed a number of agreements to foster cooperation in the field of space science among its Member States, and between them and non-Member States that had made significant strides and remarkable achievements in the field. “ICESCO encourages the exchange of expertise and new research findings in the field of space science and applications and is keen to establish fruitful cooperation with SSC and other space bodies and institutions in the Member States and beyond to attain these objectives,” explained ICESCO DG.

For his part, Dr. Al-Tamimi commended the roles played by ICESCO and expressed the SSC’s willingness to cooperate with the Organization and with bodies and institutions specialized in the field of space in the Islamic world and beyond, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to supporting the upcoming space-related initiatives due to be launched by ICESCO.

At the close of the meeting, the parties agreed on the participation of SSC in ICESCO’s annual Global Space Science Forum, and that ICESCO will participate in the coming session of the International Space Conference due to be organized by the Commission in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.