This announcement was made at a joint press conference with Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, at the headquarters of the Ministry in Rabat.

On this occasion, El Malek said that the choice of Rabat "places us before a great challenge, that of working to make this city the city of light and knowledge, as should be any other cultural capital in the Islamic world".

"This is the least we can offer to this city which hosts the headquarters of ISESCO," he added, while expressing his thanks and gratitude to HM King Mohammed VI for His constant support to ISESCO.

He said that a consultative meeting will be held on November 22 to discuss the various programs that the Organization develops jointly with the Ministry.

For his part, Bensaid said that the designation of the city of Rabat as cultural capital of the Islamic world for the year 2022 will contribute to the post-covid cultural revival at local and national levels.

A program comprising a series of activities and involving different government sectors and local authorities in the Rabat-Salé Kenitra region, will be set up for the occasion, he added.

Bensaid also stressed the importance of this meeting which reflects the density of the partnership uniting the two parties in the fields of culture and youth.