H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK paid a courtesy visit to H.E. Mahinur ÖZDEMİR GÖKTAŞ, Minister of Family and Social Services of the Republic of Türkiye, on 17 July 2023 at the Ministry's Headquarters in Ankara, Türkiye. The meeting commenced with H.E. SELÇUK expressing sincere and heartfelt congratulations to the newly appointed Minister, for an auspicious and productive tenure ahead.

H.E. SELÇUK underscored the close ties that have been maintained for a long time between SESRIC and the Esteemed Ministry. Particularly, she expressed gratitude to the Ministry for its active support to the Centre in various initiatives and studies related to the family, the elderly, children, and people with disabilities.

Moreover, H.E. SELÇUK emphasized SESRIC's pledge to increase human capacities through the Centre's training activities as part of its Social Development Capacity Building Programme (SD-CaB). Many of these activities have been organized in partnership with the Ministry. These activities are essential for improving the skills, knowledge, and capacities of professionals and decision-makers in OIC countries. SESRIC encourages the exchange of good practices and success stories by organising workshops, training courses, webinars and study visits with the main aim of promoting intra-OIC collaborations to advance social progress in the region.

H.E. ÖZDEMİR GÖKTAŞ in her turn expressed the Ministry's desire to strengthen the existing good relations with SESRIC and their willingness to continue supporting the OIC countries in areas related to the Ministry's work. Furthermore, she highlighted the crucial role of boosting sustainable social development in the region with the aim of improving the well-being of individuals and societies across the OIC countries.

Both parties concluded the meeting on a positive note after discussing various potential new initiatives that could be of benefit to the member countries in the domain of social services.