WNAM REPORT:A delegation from Turkmenistan headed by Deputy Minister of Education A. Atayev took part in the opening ceremony of the international program “Youth Capital of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation for 2025”, which took place on June 30 in Morocco.
The program is being implemented under the auspices of the Islamic Youth Cooperation Forum and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco, with the support of the OIC General Secretariat. The event was attended by representatives of more than 50 countries, ministers responsible for youth policy, heads of international organizations and over 200 young delegates.
During the visit, the Turkmen delegation held bilateral meetings with representatives of Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Turkey, Malaysia, the Republic of Tatarstan and the ICYF leadership. The issues of strengthening youth diplomacy, expanding cooperation in educational systems and developing national youth initiatives in the international arena were discussed.
Particular attention was paid to the development of the Central Asian Youth Dialogue, initiated by the city of Arkadag in 2023. The delegation presented the results of the second session of the dialogue, held at the UN headquarters in New York in April 2025, where a joint declaration of Central Asian youth was adopted.
OIC representatives were provided with information on preparations for the Youth Forum within the framework of the third UN Conference on the Least Developed Landlocked Countries, which will be held in Avaza.
The opening ceremony was held by the Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, who noted that the designation of Marrakech as the OIC Youth Capital recognizes the cultural significance of the city and Morocco’s contribution to the development of youth platforms in the Islamic world.
In his congratulatory speech, ICYF President Taha Ayhan emphasized the importance of Marrakech as a center for intercultural dialogue and expressed gratitude to the Central Asian countries for their active youth policies.
The six-month programme in Morocco will include forums, workshops, competitions and academic events on democracy, innovation, sustainable development and youth participation in decision-making.
