The Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, signed in the Moroccan capital, Rabat, a cooperation agreement with the Director General of the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO), Dr. Salim bin Mohammed Al-Malik, aimed at achieving specific objectives of common interest between ISESCO and the Union.
The Secretary-General of the Union, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, noted the importance of the agreement, under which the Union of Arab Chambers and the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization will cooperate closely and consult on issues of common interest in order to achieve their common goals, which include promoting sustainable development initiatives and cooperating in projects that drive sustainable economic growth and development in the Arab region, in line with sustainability goals. Global such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, focuses on sectors such as education, industry, and innovation. ITU and ISESCO will also work on capacity building and knowledge exchange to facilitate joint training programs, studies, research, workshops, and seminars aimed at strengthening the capacities of professionals and institutions in the Member States in areas such as trade, investment, and digital transformation. In addition to strengthening the social solidarity economy through initiatives aimed at leveraging local business opportunities to generate revenue, especially for youth and women."
Dr. Khaled Hanafi pointed out the importance of promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. From this point of view, this agreement will contribute to supporting innovation, entrepreneurship, and technological progress in the Arab world, with a focus on women and youth, by launching initiatives that encourage startups, SMEs, and research in industries that are vital to economic growth. The consortium will also work with the OECD to increase trade and investment opportunities within the region by creating an enabling environment for Arab companies and easing trade restrictions."
The MoU provides for ISESCO and the Union of Arab Chambers to cooperate in the implementation of projects, especially in the fields of science, technology, and innovation, where the two organizations can work to strengthen innovation systems in the Arab world. Promote research and development in key industries, and support technology transfer and innovation hubs that connect universities, companies, and governments for economic development. With ISESCO's involvement in environmental and sustainable development issues, and the focus of the Union of Arab Chambers on regional trade, one of the main objectives of the Union and ISESCO will be to support projects in the fields of renewable energy, green technologies, and sustainable business practices. As well as promoting policies that, encourage environmentally friendly investment and corporate responsibility in the Arab world.
The Secretary-General, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, stressed the importance of social and economic inclusion in order to achieve gender equality and increase youth entrepreneurship, and for this, we will work through the memorandum of understanding to promote inclusive economic policies that support women and youth, enhance the role of women entrepreneurs and increase their participation in economic leadership roles. In this context, joint initiatives will be launched aimed at providing job opportunities for young people and entrepreneurs through chambers of commerce, local communities, and educational institutions."
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
