Uzbekistan is planning to establish a new Imam Al-Bukhari International Research Center.
Interim President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who made the announcement, said the research center will be headquartered at the Imam Al-Bukhari Academy in Samarkand and affiliated to the OIC. 
According to Uzbek Consul General Ulugbek Maksudov, his country’s interim president met the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) secretary general to support the initiative of creating the scientific research center.
He added that Islamic Development Bank (IDB) President Bandar Al-Hajjar has also expressed his appreciation and support for the project.
Briefing the media about the 43rd Session of the Council of Foreign Ministers (CFM) of the OIC, which was held on Oct. 18-19 in Tashkent, Maksudov said the theme of the conference, "Education and enlightenment: Path to peace and creativity," was proposed by the late Uzbek President Islam Karimov.
On his part, Ambassador Yahaya Lawal, director of African affairs at the OIC, said: “The organization fully supports this idea of Imam Al-Bukhari International Research Center and this project will serve the entire umma.”
Maksudov said the late Karimov, considered choosing Uzbekistan to chair the OIC CFM as a recognition by the Islamic world of what the country provided to enrich human history, through its scholars such as Imam Al-Bukhari, Imam At-Termizi, Mahmud Az-Zamakhshari, Muhammad Al-Khawarazmi, Burhaniddin Marginani, Abu Raihan Beruni, Abu Ali ibn Sina and others.
During the conference, six priorities were highlighted by Mirziyoyev to be achieved by the OIC. 
They include highlighting the considerable role of education in strengthening the capacity of member states; enhancing creativity by promoting sciences and technology in order to achieve developmental, economic and social progress; ensure unity; capitalize on the core elements of the Islamic world through cooperation between the member states and other states; the provision of initiatives; and the prohibition of disseminating nuclear weapons.

Source: Arab News