A Group of students from the Department of Public Administration and Public Policy of Tilburg University was conveyed that the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation focuses on the pursuit of economic development through collaborative partnership. The D-8 has been making steady progress in terms of concretizing cooperation and partnership. The group visited Istanbul as part of their study visit and took keen interest on the affairs of the D-8 Organization.  

The student group from Tilburg University was briefed on the functioning of this unique inter-governmental organization which stretches its membership in three continents in Asia, Europe and Africa. They were updated with current development taking place within the D-8 Organization, background of D-8 and role and engagement of the Organization as a prominent inter-governmental entity for economic development as envisaged by its leaders. They were also briefed that the D-8 provided a good platform for promoting South-South Cooperation. 

The group noted that the D-8 had marked significant progress over the period of 16 years since its establishment in areas such as industry, trade, transportation etc. and thus had contributed to the economic uplift of the people of the region. Significant increase in D-8 intra-trade, people-to-people contact, ease in access to markets etc. has created enabling environment for people to widen their scope of economic activities as well as prospect.