D-8 Organization unveils new Secretariat’s premises in Istanbul

A new Secretariat for the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) has been unveiled in Kağıthane Municipality in Istanbul, Türkiye, on 28 January 2024, where the Headquarters of the intergovernmental body is located. At a ceremony attended by the representatives from member states, local government, partner organizations, and media, the premises was officiated by its Secretary General, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam.

Delivering his remarks at the inauguration, Ambassador Imam said that the new office premises would provide conducive environment for staffers of the Secretariat to conduct the day-to-day operations of the Organization in a more relaxed atmosphere, for enhanced productivity. He expressed his immense appreciation to the Government of Türkiye for providing the new office with the State-of-The-Art facilities, befitting the status of the D-8, as an international organization.

Speaking further, Ambassador Imam said by providing the new office, it thus signifies the continued commitment of the Government of Türkiye to the advancement of the D-8 cooperation, as well as fulfillment of its responsibility, as the host of the headquarters of the organization. He added that the new office will, no doubt, strengthened the Secretariat’s services to the member states, to achieve its objectives in the key priority areas. He assured that the office would continue to be the center for maintaining and strengthening cooperation with the D-8’s international partners.

Ambassador Imam used the opportunity to provide highlights of the 11th D-8 Summit, held in Cairo last December, including the leaders’ acceptance of Azerbaijan as the ninth member of the D-8 Organization. He thanked member states for their continued support for the D-8 Secretariat’s operations, through payment of their statutory contributions.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Rıza Kağan Yılmaz, the Representative of the host country and Head of the Department of Deputy Director General for International Economic Policies and Organizations of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Türkiye, underlined the importance of the D-8 for the Turkish Government and other member states, as well as its potential as a future global economic powerhouse that would enhance cooperation amongst countries of the global South, foreconomic prosperity. He assured of the continued support of the Government of Türkiye for D-8 Organization, to fulfill the objectives of its founding Fathers.

Also speaking, the Representative of the Local Government, Mr. Levent Dirici, who is the Deputy Mayor of Kağıthane, welcomed the D-8 Secretariat to the municipal area. He said that Kağıthane, being located in the center of Istanbul, with modern infrastructures, would continue to improve on its existing facilities, to support the organization’s Office.

Ambassador Imam performed the ribbon-cutting of the unveiling of the Secretariat’s premises, while accompanied by the representatives of the D-8 Member States and the local government.

 

The D-8 Organization is an intergovernmental organization founded in 1997 by Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. It operates mostly in the economic realms, particularly trade, agriculture and food security, industry and SMEs, energy, tourism, transportation, ICT, and human resources development. During the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo in December 2024, the group accepted Azerbaijan, as its ninth member. The D-8 Organization is headquartered in Istanbul.

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