D-8 to strengthen ties with local governments

17 April 2015, Turkey
Dr. Seyed AliMohammad Mousavi, the D-8 Secretary-General, paid a 3-day visit to Erzurum, Agri and Van, Turkey’s eastern provinces with enormous potential in agriculture, tourism and industry from 15 to 17 April 2015. These visits took place as part of the Organization’s external relations to establish and nurture effective partnership with local authorities and institutions in Turkey. During his visits, Secretary-General Mousavi was warmly received by the authorities and institutions.
He met with Mr. Ahmet Alt?parmak, Govenor of Erzurum, Mr. Musa I??n, Governor of A?r? and Mr ?brahim Ta?yapan, Governor of Van. The Governors assured the Secretary-General of their whole-hearted support to the D-8 Activities in Turkey. Secretary-General thanked the top representatives of the Turkish government and, through them, the Government of the Republic of Turkey for their continuous support toward D-8 affairs.
D-8 Secretary-General also met with Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak, Rector of Erzurum Atatürk University, Prof. Dr. Peyami BATTAL, Rector of Van YüzüncüY?l University and discuused with them possible cooperation in higher education, scientific research and strengthening of academic linkages between the D-8 Countries. Secretary-General Mousavi mentioned that a large number of potential scientific researchers are attending different universities in D-8 Member States. He underscored the need for advanced scientific research and active collaboration among centres of excellence within the D-8 Member States. 
Secretary-General Mousavi visited DAP, eastern provinces’ regional development agency and recieved the DAP’s cordial intent to facilitate close co-operation between Turkey and D-8 member countries on the regional development. it was agreed that both organizations would identify areas of mutual cooperation and explore possibilities of partnership in those identified areas.
Besides meetings with these key persons and institutions, Secretary-General addressed five conferences in these three provinces. He interacted and exchanged  with academicians and students. Dr. Mousavi briefed the audience on the current development taking place within the D-8 Organization and also gave a background of D-8 and highlighted the role and engagement of the Organization as a prominent inter-governmental entity for economic development as envisaged by its leaders. He highlighted that D-8 with a combined population of over 1 (one) billion and a market size of more than $1 trillion, is set to emerge as one of the world’s most promising trade blocs and has achieved impressive progress in intra-trade of 150 Billion USD by 2012.  “We are looking forward to achieving the target of $500 billion for intra-trade by 2018, which has been set by our leaders”, added Dr. Mousavi. He also underlined that D-8 had marked significant progress over the period of 17 years since its establishment in the areas such as industry, trade, transportation etc. and thus had contributed to the economic uplift of the people of the region.
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