Pakistani Official Sees Bright Future For D-8 Forum

Islamabad, Sept 3, IRNA – Senior official at Pakistan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs Monday expressed optimism over future of the D-8 Organization noting it would be very bright. Speaking to IRNA after chairing a session of the D-8 Commission in Islamabad, Director General of the ministrys Economic Coordination Tanveer Khaskheli said the forum aimed at enhancing economic cooperation among the member states and boosting economic activity in the developing countries. Delegates from Member countries‚ including Bangladesh‚ Egypt‚ Indonesia‚ Iran‚ Malaysia‚ Nigeria‚ Pakistan and Turkey‚ and D-8 Secretary General Dr. Syed Ali Mohammad Mousavi also attended the session. Tanveer Khaskheli said the 15-year organization gathered major world countries as its members. He went on to say that main purpose of the D-8 Group is to enhance economic cooperation among the member states. “Most important thing which is taking place among D-8 members is the professional training arrangements and the interact activity between the business community of the D-8 countries,” said the Pakistani official. He added cooperation was also underway in other sectors such as energy, agriculture, transportation, and many others new sectors.” Tanveer Khaskheli said that the forum was a regular activity of the D-8 group which is held twice a year. “This session basically talks about the calendar of activities which is held now and for the next year in addition to some improvement in the secretariat structure and budget, we will also be talking about professional training arrangements, visa facilities and all related things,” he said. The D-8 reflects combined population of one billion and a market of about one trillion dollars. The member countries envisage increasing intra D-8 trade to over five hundred billion dollars by 2018. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry said one of the main topics on the agenda of the meeting is to review the D-8 agreements on facilitating trade and business among member states. The meeting is the first in a series of meetings which Pakistan would host as follow up of the Islamabad Summit./end