H.E. Zehra Zümrüt SELÇUK met with H.E. Amb. Abdelhameed Abdelkader HAMZA,  Chief of Mission of the League of Arab States (LAS) to the Republic of Türkiye. The meeting, held on July 26, 2023, aimed to strengthen the partnership between SESRIC and the LAS. Both organizations have a longstanding commitment to advancing socio-economic development, fostering regional cooperation, and empowering OIC countries.

During the visit, H.E. SELÇUK took the opportunity to highlight several key activities undertaken by SESRIC that have made a positive impact on member states. These include organizing training activities, such as courses, workshops, webinars, and study visits, through 21 different capacity-building programs, designed to meet the needs and capacities of the member countries and guided by relevant recommendations and resolutions of the OIC.

SESRIC has also partnered with relevant member states of the League of Arab States to implement three selected projects in the areas of finance, poverty alleviation, and transport as part of the COMCEC Project Funding. Notably, one of the key partners in the project focused on Islamic finance is the Saudi Central Bank.

The visit also emphasized SESRIC's efforts in forging relationships with national institutions in the Arab world. Institutions like the Ministry of Health and Population in Egypt, the Vocational Training Corporation (VTC) of Jordan, the Bahrain Institute of Banking and Finance (BIBF), and the Tunisian Occupational Safety and Health Institute (TOSHI) have made valuable contributions to the success of SESRIC's activities. Additionally, the Moroccan National Agency for the Promotion of Employment and Skills (ANAPEC) has been selected as the Chair for the OIC Public Employment Services Network (OIC-PESNET) for the term 2023-2025.

As the visit concluded, H.E. SELÇUK expressed her heartfelt gratitude to H.E. Amb. Abdelhameed Abdelkader Hamza and the LAS for their warm welcome and hospitality. The partnership between SESRIC and the LAS holds great potential as both parties are eager to expand joint projects, sign memoranda of understanding (MoUs) and agreements, and facilitate knowledge exchange in the fields of statistics, research, and training.

The League of Arab States, consisting of 22 Member States namely Algeria, Bahrain, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, and Yemen, has been a strong advocate for regional integration, dialogue, peace, and stability. By facilitating cooperation among Arab nations, LAS has played a crucial role in addressing political, economic, and social challenges that extend beyond national borders. Its efforts have contributed to enhancing regional resilience and advancing the aspirations of Arab nations.