The Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, H. E. Dato’ IR Haji Amiruddin Hamzah, along with his delegation, paid a visit to the D-8 Secretariat on 14 February, 2019. The D-8 Secretary-General, Ambassador Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Jaafar warmly welcomed the Minister.

Ambassador Ku Jaafar apprised him about the latest developments taking place within the D-8 Organization and informed him that the Secretariat is working in full swing to implement the vision set by the Organization’s leaders at the 9th Summit held in October 2017 in Istanbul.

The Secretary-General pointed out the importance of private sector involvement and explained that the Secretariat is working towards increasing the scale and scope of private partnerships. He also briefed the Minister on recent activities and initiatives. Among the activities and initiatives, he mentioned that D-8 and Istanbul Sabiha Gokcen International Airport (ISG) signed a Letter of Intent (LoI) and ISG has become first D-8 Designated Airport and this will be helpful in promoting people to people and business to business contacts as well as tourism and travel facilitation among D-8 Member States with a view to later on establish a D-8 Airports Association that would provide special airport facilities and services for D-8 citizens. The D-8 has also signed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with Al-Hidayah Group for the development of sustainable programme and establishment of the D-8 Creative Economic and Financial centre in Kuala Lumpur.

In addition, the D-8 is working on a “payment card system” that facilitates the use of local currencies among D-8 citizens. The D8P Card project was initiated by KOMEPS FinTech company of Malaysia. The idea was presented to the 41st session of the D-8 Commission held in November 2018 in Antalya. KOMEPS officials are currently visiting the Central Banks of D-8 Member States and seeking for their opinions. As of this date, they have visited the Central Banks of Malaysia, Bangladesh, Turkey and Pakistan and have received positive feedbacks from these institutions.

The D-8 Secretary-General also briefed the Deputy Minister about the proposed D-8 Industrial Park, Network of Pioneers for Research and Innovation (D-8 NPRI), D-8 International University, D-8 Heath Partnership and Social Protection, D-8 Research Centre, etc.

The Deputy Minister was accompanied by the CEO of INNO-BIO, Mr. Mohd Zaid Abdul Jalil and Secretary to Deputy Finance Minister, Mohamed Farhan bin Mohamed Ainuddin.