H.E. Ms. Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Director General of the Statistical, Economic and Social Research and Training Centre for Islamic Countries (SESRIC), paid a courtesy call on H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), at the D-8 Secretariat in Istanbul. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood assumed office as Secretary-General on 1 January 2026.

The meeting provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange cordial greetings and to reaffirm the close and constructive relationship between the D-8 Organization and SESRIC. They emphasized the value of sustained institutional cooperation in advancing shared development priorities and supporting evidence-based policymaking among Member States.

In this regard, discussions focused on the D-8’s priority areas of cooperation, including trade, agriculture, energy, transportation, industry, and tourism, alongside emerging focus areas such as health, science and technology, and youth. Both sides noted that the overlapping membership and complementary mandates of D-8 and SESRIC offer a strong foundation for mutually beneficial collaboration that can contribute directly to the socio-economic development of Member States and their populations.

The D-8 Secretary-General and the SESRIC Director General exchanged views on practical ways to further enhance cooperation, including deepening the institutional relationship, joint capacity-building and training initiatives, collaboration on statistical platforms and analytical research, and strengthened engagement in sectoral studies and comprehensive economic outlook assessments for D-8 Member States.

H.E. Ambassador Mustafa Özcan, Director (Director-I) of the D-8 Secretariat, also participated in the meeting and shared perspectives on deepening collaboration through more structured and programmatic engagement between the two institutions.

Both sides expressed their intention to continue strengthening cooperation through jointly organized events, programmes, and activities designed to support national institutions and regional development efforts. SESRIC also conveyed its readiness to further engage the D-8 Secretariat in its ongoing initiatives and programmes, with a view to expanding the scope and depth of collaboration.

The meeting concluded with a mutual expression of appreciation and a shared commitment to operationalize existing cooperation mechanisms more actively, including through closer coordination and the regular exchange of calendars of activities.