The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation and the Association of National Development Finance Institutions in Member Countries of the Islamic Development Bank (ADFIMI) have agreed to advance structured cooperation in development finance, capacity building, SME support, and Halal economy initiatives.

The decision was taken during the meeting between the D-8 Secretary General H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood and the ADFIMI delegation led by its Secretary-General Mr. Ilhami Öztürk. During the meeting, Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood underscored the critical role of development finance institutions in promoting sustainable and inclusive growth across D-8 Member States. He emphasized the importance of operational partnerships that translate policy frameworks into concrete development outcomes.

Mr. Ilhami Öztürk elaborated on ADFIMI’s mandate as a collaborative platform uniting national development finance institutions within the IsDB Member Countries. The delegation highlighted ADFIMI’s potential role as an institutional bridge between the D-8 and the Islamic Development Bank, leveraging its network to support project implementation, capacity development, and knowledge-exchange.

Discussions focused on joint initiatives for skills development and training for financial institutions and banks in D-8 Member States, as well as the sharing of successful development finance models, including Türkiye’s İLBANK, as a reference for financing local and municipal development. The two sides also recognized strong alignment between D-8 priorities and ADFIMI’s ongoing work in Halal trade finance and microcredit schemes for SMEs.

In the broader context, the D-8 Secretary-General apprised the delegation of the forthcoming 12^th D-8 Summit in Jakarta and its planned sideline activities, including business and Halal economy-related events.  The possibilities of organizing joint engagement on the margins of the IsDB Annual Meetings in 2026 were also considered.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to pursue practical cooperation through capacity-building programmes, knowledge-sharing, and coordinated outreach. The engagement reflects a shared resolve to strengthen development finance ecosystems and advance inclusive economic progress across D-8 Member States.