A delegation from Turkmenistan, led by Deputy Minister of Education A. Atayev, took part in the opening ceremony of the international program “OIC Youth Capital 2025,” held on June 30 in Morocco, according to the website of the Ministry of Education.

The program is being implemented under the auspices of the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF) and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication of Morocco, with the support of the OIC General Secretariat. The event brought together representatives from over 50 countries, including ministers responsible for youth policy, heads of international organizations, and more than 200 young delegates.

During the visit, the Turkmen delegation held bilateral meetings with representatives from Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Türkiye, Malaysia, the Republic of Tatarstan, and ICYF leadership. The discussions focused on strengthening youth diplomacy, expanding cooperation in education systems, and promoting national youth initiatives on the international stage.

Special attention was given to the development of the Central Asian Youth Dialogue, initiated by the city of Arkadag in 2023. The delegation presented the outcomes of the second session of the dialogue, which was held at the UN headquarters in New York in April 2025, where a joint declaration of Central Asian youth was adopted.

The OIC representatives were also briefed on preparations for the Youth Forum to be held within the framework of the Third United Nations Conference on the Landlocked Least Developed Countries, scheduled to take place in Awaza.

The opening ceremony was conducted by Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid. He emphasized that granting Marrakech the status of OIC Youth Capital acknowledges the city’s cultural significance and Morocco’s contribution to developing youth platforms in the Islamic world.

ICYF President Taha Ayhan, in his congratulatory speech, highlighted Marrakech’s role as a hub of intercultural dialogue and expressed appreciation for the active youth policies of Central Asian countries.

As part of the six-month program in Morocco, various forums, seminars, competitions, and academic events will be held focusing on democracy, innovation, sustainable development, and youth participation in decision-making.