Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), received Mrs. Suzi Carla Barbosa, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Cooperation and Communities of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, and together they explored avenues for enhancing cooperation between ICESCO and Guinea-Bissau in the Organization’s areas of competence.
During the meeting, held on Thursday, June 9, 2022, at ICESCO Headquarters in Rabat, in the presence of Mrs. Filomena Mendes Mascarehas Tipote, Ambassador of Guinea-Bissau to Morocco, Dr. AlMalik reviewed ICESCO’s vision and action strategy, which rests upon greater communication and coordination with National Commissions and competent authorities in the Member States to identify their needs and priorities and devise programmes and activities accordingly.

He also reviewed the key programmes that are currently implemented by ICESCO, mainly those geared towards building the capacities of youth and women, promoting technology entrepreneurship, teaching Arabic to non-Arabic speakers, harnessing the potential of space science and artificial intelligence and their applications for the advancement of education, science and culture, and anchoring harmonious coexistence, peace and civilizational dialogue.

For her part, the Minister of Foreign Affairs commended ICESCO’s support for the efforts of Member States in its areas of competence, emphasizing her country’s keenness to cooperate with the Organization as an important partner in the promotion of peace and security, and the achievement of social development and quality education.

She added that cooperation between the Organization and the Republic is critical to the implementation of programmes that will engage youth and women, the two most prevalent categories in Guinea-Bissau, in the development of their country.
The meeting saw the attendance of Dr. Barry Koumbou, Head of ICESCO’s Education Sector, Mrs. Ramata Almamy Mbaye, Head of the Social and Human Sciences Sector, Ms. Amira Fadel, Head of the Partnerships and International Cooperation Sector, and Mrs. Sally Mabrouk, Director of ICESCO DG’s Cabinet.

At the close of the visit, Dr. AlMalik took Mrs. Barbosa on a tour of ICESCO’s Contemporary Art Gallery, during which she expressed admiration for the exhibited artworks.