The Developing-8 Organization Secretary-General, H.E. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, received the Delegation of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) at the D-8 Secretariat in Istanbul on 12 January 2023. The Secretary-General of SMIIC, Mr. İhsan Övüt, led the delegation of SMIIC. The two interlocutors had fruitful discussions on several issues which can boost the cooperation between the two organizations.

D-8 Secretary-General warmly welcomed the Secretary-General of SMIIC and congratulated him for the successful Organization of the Halal Expo in Istanbul in November 2022. He then briefed Mr. Övüt on the priorities of the D-8 Organization and activities to implement them. The D-8 Secretary-General also underlined that human resources’ capacity and expertise in standards play an essential role, particularly in the areas of trade, industry, and SME. He also invited SMIIC to take place in the initiative of the D-8 Creative Economy and Financial Center (CEFC).

On his part, the Secretary-General of SMIIC stated that SMIIC is one of the affiliated bodies of the Organization for Islamic Cooperation (OIC). He underlined several activities of SMIIC.

At the end of the successful meeting, two dignitaries agreed on some points to advance the cooperation. They have decided that D-8 Secretariat and the SMIIC Secretariat will ink a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) covering the cooperation in the relevant and common areas of the two Organizations. This MoU will include joint capacity-building programs, workshops, and training programs on standards for products and services.

Secretary-General of SMIIC, Mr. İhsan Övüt, also expressed their readiness to facilitate a pavilion dedicated to the D-8 Secretariat in the next Halal Expo, tentatively held in November 2023.