Delegates from D-8 Organization for Economic Organization (D-8) Director of Economy, Implementation and External Relations, Ms. Marwa Lasheen and Program Officer, Ms. Damla Hacıibrahimoğlu participated in the Ninth Session of the International Renewable Energy (IRENA) Assembly held from 10-13 January, 2019 in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. The Organization was granted observer status to the relevant meeting. The meeting gathered 1200 delegates from more than 160 governments, the private sector, intergovernmental organizations and civil society to discuss key issues in the global energy transition and chart the way forward for the Agency against a backdrop of remarkable achievement. D-8 Member States actively participated the meeting as to share their past achievement and their future endeavours. Delegates from the D-8 Secretariat engaged in bilateral talks with the representatives of the Member States as to revitalize cooperation in renewable energy. Moreover, the D-8 Delegation held talks with international stakeholders namely IRENA, Islamic Development Bank, African Development Bank, UN agencies and international civil society organizations to exchange views on furthering cooperation.

Through their deliberations with the representatives from D-8 Member States, D-8 delegation was given assurances of the shared will to pursue common and affirmative action in the field of renewable energy. Member States recognized the importance of the field not only for their national agendas but also as a way to strengthen their position in the international fora. Delegates agreed that identifying the relative strength of each Member State as to discover avenues of partnership and know-how sharing will be the first definitive action. In this regard, the Secretariat was asked to initiate dialogue with relevant stakeholders, particularly IRENA to capitalize on their expertise.

D-8 Delegation shared Member States’ vision with the IRENA officials. Director of Strategic Management and Executive Direction, Mr. Mohamed El-Farnawany endorsed D-8’s enthusiasm for deepened collaboration in the field of renewable energy and acknowledged the untapped potential of Member States. He discussed with the D-8 delegation ways to further cooperation among two Organizations on technical level as to assess the competencies of Member States and map out future course of action. D-8 Delegation also held talks with the Acting Director, Country Support and Partnerships, Mr. Gürbüz Gönül and exchanged views on how best to strengthen practical cooperation among D-8 and IRENA.

IRENA is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international cooperation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity.