Brief History of D-8

D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is an organization for economic cooperation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkiye.

The establishment of D-8  Organization for Economic Cooperation was announced officially through the Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government on June 15, 1997.

The objectives of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation are to improve member states’ position in the global economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at international level, and improve standards of living.

D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is a global arrangement rather than a regional one, as the composition of its members reflects. D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is a forum with no adverse impact on bilateral and multi-lateral commitments of the member countries, emanating from their membership to other international or regional organizations.

Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam from Nigeria is currently the Secretary General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation with its Secretariat based in Istanbul, Turkiye.

Idea Behind D-8 Establishment

The idea of cooperation among major Muslim developing countries was mooted by Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan, the then Prime Minister of the Republic of Turkiye, during a Seminar on “Cooperation in Development” which was held in Istanbul in October 1996. The group envisioned cooperation among countries stretching from South East Asia to Africa. Representatives from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Pakistan attended the Seminar. This conference was the first step towards the establishment of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and it was only after a series of preparatory meetings that D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation was set up officially and began its activities with the Istanbul Declaration issued at the end of the summit of Heads of State and Government held in Istanbul on June 15, 1997.