Mr. Rasul Omarov, the Director-General of the ICYF, attended the opening ceremony of “Samarkand – The Cultural Capital of the Islamic World – 2025,” organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan and ICESCO, which took place from May 26 to 28, 2025, in Samarkand, Uzbekistan. During the event, Mr. Omarov spoke at the international forum on “The Spiritual Heritage and Cultural Expression of the Islamic World,” which was held alongside the opening ceremony.

In his speech, Mr. Omarov highlighted the Forum’s flagship program, the OIC Youth Capital, emphasizing the importance of promoting Islamic civilization among the youth. He outlined how the ICYF pursues this goal through various educational programs, creative platforms, and intergenerational dialogue, which are among the seven core pillars of the ICYF’s strategic mandate.

The event also featured speeches by H.E. Ozodbek Nozorbekov, the Minister of Culture of Uzbekistan; H.E. Dr. Salim Malik, the Director-General of ICESCO, various ministers and deputy ministers from ICESCO member states, as well as heads of numerous international organizations. The opening ceremony was followed by the cultural program and visit for the delegations to historical sightseeings in Samarkand.