The Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) has secured a crucial support for its efforts in advancing women economic empowerment from the Turkish government. The support was obtained from the meeting between Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, the Secretary-General of the D-8 and Her Excellency, Madame Mahinur Özdemir Göktaş, the Minister of Family and Social Services of Türkiye in Ankara on 16 November 2023.

The two dignitaries discussed the D-8’s effort to mainstream women’s empowerment in D-8, particularly in the economic activities. Ambassador Imam told the Minister that women’s empowerment is crucial in the D-8, since more than half of the population of the D-8 demographics are women.

To materialize the D-8 collective agenda, Ambassador Imam also proposed the hosting of the first D-8 women economic empowerment summit and exhibition in Türkiye in the second quarter of 2024. He highlighted that the effort to advance women economic empowerment had already secured approval from the D-8 Commission, during its 47th meeting in Dhaka, Bangladesh, last month.

Minister Göktaş welcomed the D8 group’s efforts to mainstream women economic empowerment in the D-8’s development agenda. Minister Göktaş also welcomed the proposed initiative to host the proposed D-8 Women Economic Empowerment Summit and Exhibition in 2024.

The D-8 SG thanked the Turkish Minister for accepting to host the Women Economic Empowerment Summit, while describing it as yet another demonstration of the commitment of the Government of Türkiye to the socio- economic well-being of women within the framework of the D-8.

“I am deeply grateful to Minister Göktaş for her unwavering support and enthusiasm towards hosting the D-8 Women Economic Empowerment Summit,” said Ambassador Imam. “This is the true demonstration of the Minister’s commitment to promoting gender equality and creating opportunities for women in our member states,” he added.

The First D-8 Women Economic Empowerment Summit and Exhibition is expected to attract government officials, business leaders, key stakeholders in women Organizations and NGOs from across member states. Ambassador Imam will start working to prepare the event with the relevant officials from the Turkish Ministry of Family and Social Services.

The D-8 Organization is an inter-governmental organization whose members are Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Founded in 1997 as an economic organization, the D-8 focused its activities within the economic realms, including trade, industry, small and medium enterprises, tourism, and energy.