The 8^th session of the Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers (ICEM) was held on 02-03 October 2019 in Rabat, Kingdom of Morocco. The Conference was organized by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO) and the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture and the General Authority of Meteorology and Environmental Protection of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, in coordination with the General Secretariat of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC). The Conference brought together environment ministers of OIC member countries alongside representatives of several OIC institutions and international organizations. SESRIC was represented by the H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General, and Mr. Mazhar Hussain, Director of Economic and Social Research Department, thereat.

The OIC has mooted the project of coming up with a comprehensive strategy for Family and Marriage Institution Empowerment to strengthen family as a core component of society in the Islamic world. The main aim of formulating this strategy is to promote the empowerment and transformation of Family roles among Member States as well as to improve the well-being and role of families in their development and productivity.

H.E. Mr. Nebil DABUR, Director General of SESRIC, paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Dr. Salim Mohammed ALMALIK, Director General of ISESCO, on 01 October 2019, on the sideline of the 8th Islamic Conference of Environment Ministers.

SESRIC participated in the 1^st Meeting of the OIC-COMCEC Central Banks Forum hosted by the Central Bank of the Republic of Turkey on 22-24 September 2019 in Bodrum, Turkey. High-level officials, including Governors from the Central Banks and Monetary Authorities of 18 OIC countries also participated in the Meeting.

SESRIC organized a Study Visit on “Developing a Successful Employment and Skills Policies and Strategies” on 18-20 September 2019 in Ankara, Republic of Turkey for the researchers from the Centre of Manpower Research and Development of the Ministry of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia.

Within the framework of the Bina Initiative, SESRIC delivered a tailored-made Training of Trainers (ToT) Course on Entrepreneurship and SME Development to 14 trainers from Libya during the period 17-22 September 2019 at the premises of Bina Incubator in Istanbul, Turkey, in partnership with local techno-parks, incubators, business hubs and local companies.

SESRIC, in collaboration with the OIC General Secretariat, organized a Training Session on Guidelines for Preparing, Drafting and Submitting Progress Reports on Implementing OIC Plan of Action on the Advancement of Women (OPAAW) on 17-18 September 2019 at its headquarters in Ankara, Turkey.

SESRIC, in collaboration with the OIC General Secretariat, hosted the “Brainstorming Session on Developing a Mediators Guideline ‘Code of Conduct’ Focusing on Culturally Sensitive Mediation Approaches” on 13 September 2019 at its Headquarters in Ankara, Republic of Turkey.

The 7^th OIC/COMCEC Private Sector Tourism Forum was held on 05 September 2019 in Istanbul, Turkey under the theme “Prospects for the Development of Health Tourism in OIC Member States.”

SESRIC hosted a training course on “COMCEC Project Funding” for the relevant SESRIC staff members on 03 September 2019 in Ankara, Republic of Turkey.

The Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), the Islamic Solidarity Fund for Development (ISFD) and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) jointly organised a Preparatory Meeting for Launching the “ISFD NGOs Empowerment for Poverty Reduction Program” on 02-03 September 2019 in Istanbul, the Republic of Turkey.

SESRIC signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Comoros National Agency for International Cooperation (ANCI) to facilitate and strengthen cooperation in areas of common interests related to technical cooperation.

The Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Center for Middle Eastern Studies (ORSAM) to strengthen the collaboration and partnership in areas of common interest.

HE Mr. Nebil Dabur, Director General of SESRIC, participated in the 62nd International Statistical Institute World Statistics Congress (ISI WSC) 2019 organized by the Department of Statistics Malaysia (DOSM), Bank Negara Malaysia BNM) and Malaysia Institute of Statistics (ISM) on 18-23 August 2019 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

SESRIC organised a Study Visit on “Education Statistics” on 24-25 July 2019 in Ankara, Turkey within the framework of OIC Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme.

SESRIC organised a Study Visit on ‘IT Security in National Statistical Office Setting’ on 22-25 July 2019 in Ankara, Turkey within the framework of OIC Statistical Capacity Building (StatCaB) Programme.

Within the framework of the OIC Strategic Health Programme of Action 2014-2023, SESRIC, in coordination with the OIC General Secretariat, organised the “Brainstorming Workshop for the OIC Medical Corps” on 17-18 July 2019 at SESRIC Headquarters in Ankara, Turkey to discuss the operational plan and mechanisms for implementing the OIC Medical Corps, which was adopted during the 6^th Islamic Conference of Health Ministers, held on 05-07 December 2017 in Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

SESRIC participated in the Second Meeting of the Subgroup on Gender Statistics Training (SGGST) organised by the UN Women’s Regional Office for Asia on 15-17 July 2019 in Bangkok, Thailand.

Within the framework of the COMCEC Project Funding Mechanism, the Islamic Centre for Development of Trade (ICDT), in cooperation with SESRIC and the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), organised a training workshop on the ‘Developing Muslim Friendly Tourism in Suriname and Guyana’ on 15-17 July 2019 in Paramaribo, Suriname.

Upon the invitation extended by the Palestinian International Cooperation Agency (PICA) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Palestine, a SESRIC delegation headed by Director General H.E. Mr. Nebil Dabur has paid an official visit to Palestine on 08-09 July 2019.