Baku:The Heydar Aliyev Foundation, represented by its Vice-President Leyla Aliyeva, has entered into a new cooperation agreement with the Islamic World Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ICESCO), led by Director-General Salim bin Mohammed AlMalik.

According to Azerbaijan State News Agency, the agreement came after a meeting where both parties discussed the potential for collaborative efforts in various fields. They highlighted the Foundation's receipt of the Hamdan-ICESCO Prize in 2025, which recognized its educational and social support initiatives across the Islamic world and beyond. The importance of a memorandum for experience exchange and joint project implementation in culture, science, and education was also emphasized.

The new agreement outlines several major projects, including the upcoming presentation of the Natavan Heritage Excellence Award. This award, established by the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and ICESCO, aims to enhance the protection and management of tangible cultural heritage. Additionally, a regional project titled 'Peace Through Culture and Development in West Africa' will be launched, focusing on fostering intercultural dialogue and preserving cultural heritage in countries like Togo, Burkina Faso, Niger, Benin, and Côte d'Ivoire.

Furthermore, the agreement ensures the continuation of the Artificial Intelligence Index (AI Index) initiative in the Islamic world, originally launched in Baku in 2025. A ministerial-level meeting is planned to address progress and enhance collaboration on artificial intelligence among Islamic countries.