Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General (DG) of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), and Dr. Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization, held a meeting to explore ways to promote cooperation between the two organizations in developing agricultural technology, promoting food security and environment protection, and building women and youth capacities, especially in rural areas.

During the meeting held on Wednesday, June 22, 2022, via videoconference, the two parties discussed the mechanisms of updating the MoU signed between the two organizations to set out for new cooperation programs in the field of developing agricultural technology, capitalizing on the potential of AI applications in this field, protecting the environment, achieving food security, countering wastage, building the capacities of women and the youth in rural areas and supporting them in creating income-generating projects.

The DG also highlighted the major projects and programs that ICESCO implements to support the efforts of its Member States to achieve sustainable development through encouraging the use of modern technology in the agricultural field and training women and young people in agricultural entrepreneurship.

For his part, Dr. Qu Dongyu commended ICESCO’s efforts and its open-door policy, noting that the number of Member States in the two organizations will contribute to building fruitful cooperation in expertise exchange. The FAO official also stressed the importance of updating the MoU to help build leadership capacities among women and young people.

The meeting was attended by several FAO officials, along with a team of experts from ICESCO, namely Ms. Amira Fadil, Head of the Sector of Cooperation and International Cooperation; Dr. Muhammad Sharif, Advisor at the Sector of Science and Technology; and Ms. Rim Jirari, Head of the Section of Organizations and Bodies at the Sector of Cooperation and International Cooperation.