The Developing Eight Organization (D-8) successfully held its 33rd Session of Commission in Islamabad, in Pakistan’s capacity as the two years Chair of the D-8, during 2-3 September 2013, with full participation from member countries. During the D-8 Summit held in Islamabad on 22 November 2012, Pakistan assumed the chairmanship of the D-8 until 2014. The Commissioner’s meeting is the second in a series of meetings which Pakistan will host as follow up of the Islamabad Summit. 

The meeting reviewed several key agenda items such as the progress in intra-D-8 cooperation in several areas in the context of Road-map of cooperation from 2008 to 2018. The other particularly important agenda is the review of D-8 Agreements relating to facilitation of trade and business among member countries.

Addressing the inaugural session, H.E. Sartaj Aziz, Adviser to the Prime Minister on National Security and Foreign Affairs urged D-8 to initiate a substantive co-operation phase by operationalizing the agreements related to removing barriers in trade and business, particularly the Preferential Trade Agreement. He suggested that the member countries can take initiatives for cooperation in capacity building, transfer of technology, transfer of capital, labour, energy and food security, Islamic banking, and Halal sector development. 

Later in the meeting, D-8 Secretary-General Dr. Seyed Ali Mohammad Mousavi briefed a report on 2013 activities of the organization. He also expressed the hope that the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement will be implemented soon. D-8 Secretary-General appreciated H.E. Aziz for the excellent arrangements and warm hospitality extended during the Commission meeting and welcomed Pakistan’s active role in the D-8.  He assured support in expediting the implementation of D-8 agreements, in particular the Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA). The implementation of the PTA, will facilitate the target stipulated at the D-8 Roadmap for 2008-2018, which envisages current intra-D-8 trade of $150 billion to reach to $500 billion by 2018, he added.

During the second day of the meeting, the Commissioners continued to review the agenda and issued a report at the conclusion. The member states held very intensive consultations on the roadmap‚ strategy‚ annual budget and the structural reforms of the organization. At the second day Syed Fatemi, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister, hosted a luncheon for the D-8 Secretary-General and the Commissioners.