D8 to outline roadmap for member states: Iran

Tehran, Feb 24, IRNA – The secretary of the 1st Meeting of the D8 Industries Ministers said here on Tuesday that the next meeting of the group will present a roadmap and outline strategies for developing industrial cooperation among member states.

Talking to the headquarters of the meeting, Ahmad Khadem ol-Melleh, who is also Iran's deputy industries minister, added that industries ministers of the group have earlier been familiarized with Iran’s industrial developments and they will be briefed on the latest achievements of the country during the D8 meetings, scheduled to be held in Tehran on February 28-March 2.

“Concurrent with the main event, some 11 specialized and scientific working groups will meet to discuss various topics such as steel, cement, IT, foodstuff, small industries, textile, petrochemical, transfer of technology, energy and automobile industry,” he noted.

Khadem ol-Melleh further noted that promoting industrial capability of the D8 member states and exchange of technology among them and Muslim countries is the motto of the meetings.

D8 is a group of developing countries with large Muslim populations that have formed an economic development alliance. It consists of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

D8 was founded by Necmettin Erbakan, the former Turkish prime minister and Islamist. The group was established after an announcement in Istanbul, Turkey on June 15, 1997.

D8 is organized into three bodies: the Summit, the Council and the Commission. The Summit, which is convened every two years, has the highest level of authority, and is composed of the heads of member states.

The Council is the principal decision making body and forum for consideration of issues relating to the D8, and is composed of the foreign affairs ministers of member countries.

The Commission has executive authority, and is composed of Commissioners appointed by member states' governments./end