His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, met with Dr. Salim M. AlMalik, Director-General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), to explore potential collaboration opportunities in the areas of youth development and knowledge promotion.

During the meeting, H.E. Bin Huwaireb emphasised the significance of MBRF’s partnership with ICESCO, as well as its commitment to expand collaboration in areas of mutual interests. His Excellency also highlighted MBRF’s several innovative programs and initiatives, including the ‘The Future of Knowledge: A Foresight Report’ which features several suggestions from policymakers to foster innovation and cooperation among countries.  The annual report is issued by the MBRF, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

Furthermore, His Excellency highlighted the significance of the thirty-seven ICESCO member states being represented in this report, as well as the role of accurate data and statistics in overcoming various challenges that these countries face.

H.E. Bin Huwaireb said: “We are committed to advancing our collaboration with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to develop several areas of shared interests. In addition, we strive to promote diverse channels of knowledge and the importance of the Arabic language, while also designing strategies for the development of youth and knowledge societies. It is also important to note that ICESCO has made significant contributions to our efforts in organising numerous initiatives that support the modernisation and development of numerous fields of knowledge. These initiatives include the ‘Knowledge Summit,’ one of the most significant international forums for the exchange of knowledge, and various yearly reports that we publish in collaboration with the UNDP, such as the ‘Future of Knowledge Report’ and the ‘Global Knowledge Index’ which are issued in December every year.”

“Together with ICESCO, we aim to develop youth interest in a range of academic, research, and innovative fields. We also strive to create more opportunities that promote knowledge in societies, as well as help achieve sustainable development goals. Furthermore, we work to promote the Arabic language and its usage through a variety of projects and initiatives. Through these initiatives, we strive to emphasise the crucial role of the Arabic language, as well as its use in the modern world and sciences. For instance, our ‘Bil Arabi’ initiative, one of the most significant knowledge projects, is a result of this vision. The project was designed to strengthen the presence of the Arabic language on digital platforms and draws attention to its unique characteristics. Our qualitative programs, such as the ‘Literacy Challenge,’ ‘Dubai International Program for Writing,’ and ‘My Family Reads’ projects along with others, strongly support these efforts. Likewise, we aim to provide knowledge-based content through our digital platform, the ‘Digital Knowledge Hub,’ in an integrated framework that helps improve the position of Arabic content on the Internet," he added.

During the meeting, MBRF and ICESCO discussed several proposals to promote the Arabic language globally, particularly in Islamic countries. A joint work program based on modern technologies and a variety of communication channels was also developed to reach out to the younger generation. The meeting concluded with both parties confirming to hold joint expert meetings to develop an action plan for the successful collaboration between MBRF and ICESCO.

-End-

For further information, please contact:
Orient Planet Group (OPG)
Tel:  +971 4 4562888
Email: media@orientplanet.com
Website: www.orientplanet.com