1. In line with the initiation of Task Forces under WGIC, the proposal to identify the TFs was raised during the Fourth Meeting of D-8 Working Group on Industrial Cooperation (WGIC) on 10-12 November 2008, Bali-Indonesia.

After having and intensive discussion and exchange of views, the meeting agreed to strengthen future cooperation through Task Forces:

1. Automotive (Coordinator: Iran, Egypt, and Indonesia)
2. Energy, Power Sector and Conservation (Coordinator: Turkey, Nigeria)
3. Food production through Mechanization (Coordinator: Malaysia)
4. Cooperation/Transfer of Technology (Coordinator: Turkey, Iran)
5. Petrochemicals and Fertilizer (Coordinator: Indonesia, Iran)
6. Cement (Coordinator: Iran)
7. Steel (Coordinator: Iran)
8. Textile (Coordinator: Egypt, Indonesia)
9. Standardization and Intellectual Property Rights (Coordinator: Turkey, Iran)
10. SMEs (Coordinator: Turkey, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria)
11. Electronics and IT (Coordinator: Malaysia)

In the 3rd D-8 Task Force Meeting on Food Industries was held in Dhaka, Bangladesh on 8th October 2012, the meeting

Reviewed the Report of the last Task Force Meeting on New Projects and Areas of Cooperation in Food Industries

Decisions of last Task Force Meeting were reviewed by the participants of the D-8 Task Force Meeting on Food Sector.

4.The information regarding import and export regulations as well as investment legislation relating to food industries should be compiled by the D-8 Member Countries before the next meeting on industry.

It was stated by the participants that information in this respect should be prepared by the respective member countries that would be compiled by the Secretariat.
5.Efforts should be made to ensure that more private sector representatives from the D-8 countries participate in meetings in order to engage in the discussion of problems, contribute to problem solving, and increase business cooperation.

It was stated by the participants that a good number of participants are drawn from private sector in the meetings, so that all may be engaged in discussions of problems, and can contribute for solutions.

6.To establish electronic media such as websites, blogs and databases in order to share information regarding food legislation and trade-related issues. Central Anatolian Exporter’s Unions (OAIB) of Turkey expressed readiness to take the initiative in this respect.

It was stated by the participants that in the D-8 website, the data base on industrial issues, legislation on investment, and trade regulations etc should be included in the D-8 website.

7.Efforts should be made, with the support of the D-8 Secretariat, to encourage and facilitate the active participation of Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs) in the D-8 meetings, including those representing food industries.

It was stated by the participants that in this 2nd meeting a good number of NGOs are invited to participate.

8.Information exchange through the D-8 website should be made more effective.

It was suggested by the participants to incorporate all the relevant data on industrial issues along with export and import data, tariff rules in the D-8 website by the D-8 Secretariat within six months.

Agenda No.6: New projects and areas of cooperation in food industries

• The D-8 website should be dedicated with information on export-import regulations and investment legislations to be provided by the member countries in a regular manner to the Secretariat.
• Establish a Central Food Technological Research and Development Institute by D-8 Secretariat to act as Centre of Excellence among the D-8 countries to conduct integrated research and development activities for overall improvement of the food industrial sector.
• Arrange capacity building programme in the member countries through various joint events and exchange of data, experience sharing, experts, skills, training in the areas of food processing.
• Inviting food industries business community of all D-8 countries to organize a meeting during the next working group meeting to determine the areas of cooperation, discuss on export and import opportunities and FDI in each member country under the umbrella of the D-8 Secretariat.
• Harmonization of food standards among the D-8 member countries and acceptance of Halal certification by the member countries.

Outcomes of the Task Force on Food Industry of the 4th Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation 26-27 January 2015, Tehran, Iran are as follows:

• To establish the specialized food industry website to present their abilities, potentials, innovation & achievements, trade & production information, regulation and other areas of food industries .
• To facilitate Halal trade, the Member States agreed to adopt the required measures on the basis of common procedures.
• Member States will give priorities within the D-8 for supply of new materials in food industries.
• To establish an effective mechanism in order to follow the D-8 decisions in the area of food industries.

Outcomes of the Task Force on Food Industries of the 5th Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation 09-10 May 2016, Cairo, Egypt are as follows:

• Providing the website of D8 (www.d8coop.com) with a specialized information on food industry by each member country. It is proposed to present Member States’ abilities, potentials, innovation & achievements, trade & production information.
• Promoting Halal products by participating in Halal Exhibitions and organizing trade missions in addition to exchanging information between the member countries.
• Encourage signing MOU between D8 countries in Halal Certificates and regulations.
• Encourage companies to get Halal Certificates from official bodies & promote Halal products between all D8 countries.
• Propose that the governments of D8 countries encouraging Halal trade between the member countries.

Outcomes of the Task Force on Food Industries of the 6th Ministerial Meeting on Industrial Cooperation 14-16 November 2017 in Abuja, Nigeria are as follows:

• The meeting agreed to send information on producers, products, company brief etc. to
  www.d8coop.com/org for publishing the information as quickly as possible;
  It was agreed that for more coordination and credibility, information should be passed
  through the Manufacturing Association of member countries that can authenticate the
  information. In Nigeria SON and NAFDAC will be responsible agencies.
  ii. Simplifying procedures to certify halal product & standardizing all procedures &
  regulations with all D8 countries;
  It was observed that there is need to allow existing regulating agencies to build Halal
  certification into their processes. Members also suggested that similar process be
  introduced for certification of organic products
  iii. Encourage MRA between D8 countries in halal certification and regulation;It was observed that not all member states have halal certification procedures yet. Countries
  without certification procedures are encouraged to begin so as to bring harmonization.
  iv. Developing logistics and encouraging reduction of customs duty to Increase import &
  export;
  • Members suggested modalities for reduction of custom duty to increase import. On
  machinery and equipment where zero duty is applicable, members were encouraged to
  patronize one another.
  • Turkey raised the issue of not getting response from SON in the application of SONCAP.
  Nigeria also complained of noncertified goods including smuggling coming into the
  country. It was therefore suggested that there should be increased collaboration among
  member standard regulating agencies. Turkey requested for notification Turkish standard
  institution for pre-shipment inspection and vice versa.
  • Members suggested that each D8 country respect the implementation of Conformity
  Assessment programs to facilitate import/export to be performed by member countries
  instead of non D8 member organizations.
  • Encouraging training on halal food among D-8 Member States. Members proposed the
  necessity of knowledge sharing among member states.
  • Egypt offered all Member States to visit the website of www.invegypt.com to identify
  investment opportunities in all sectors in Egypt.