D-8 Secretary-General, Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi, visited President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, at his office. Stating that D-8’s target is reaching 500 billion USD trade volume in D-8 countries in 2018, Mousavi said that TOBB will be taking on great goals when it takes over the Presidency of the D-8 Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry (D-8 FCCI) by the 9th Summit in 2014 in Turkey.

Mousavi expressed that they wish for an increase in private sector cooperation and in order to increase trade all obstacles need to be eliminated. He also underlined that D-8 has completed the fundamental legal framework to facilitate economic and trade cooperation among the businessmen of D-8 countries, such as the entry into force of the Preferential Trade Agreement, Visa Agreement, and Customs Cooperation Agreement. He also mentioned that new and additional mechanisms should be created in order to further enhance collaboration to strengthen economic and trade relations among D-8 private sector and he should be led to create this mechanism as the next D-8 FCCI President.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that D-8 countries are the most populous 8 countries among Islamic countries and that they are in agreement that the obstacles to trade amongst these 8 countries and with the world need to be eliminated.

Stating that the intra-trade volume of the D-8 countries is equal to 8% of their total trade, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they are ready to provide all the necessary support to increase cooperation between D-8 and D-8 Chambers of Commerce and Industry. He also expressed that TOBB is ready for sharing experience and promoting cooperation with the D-8 private sector and also expressed his readiness to host and enhance the sidelines of the Summit, such as business forum and trade fair.