Chief Adviser of the Interim Government, Dr. Muhammad Yunus, departed Dhaka early Wednesday (December 18) to attend the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo, Egypt. His flight left Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 1:20 AM.
Earlier, during a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in the capital, Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Mazumder stated that, apart from Bangladesh, several other heads of state would participate in the 11th D-8 Summit in Cairo.
Among the attendees are Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi. Additionally, Malaysia’s Minister of Education and a high-ranking official from Nigeria will represent their respective countries.
The Deputy Press Secretary further informed that this year’s D-8 Summit is themed “Investing in Youth and Supporting Small and Medium Enterprises: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy.”
Highlighting the significance of the summit for Bangladesh, Abul Kalam Azad Mazumder said, “Professor Dr. Muhammad Yunus is attending the event to represent Bangladesh in this global summit focused on youth. Discussions will be held on how Bangladesh can capitalize on its potential in the SME sector.” He also mentioned that a meeting between Chief Adviser Dr. Muhammad Yunus and Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is expected to take place on the sidelines of the summit.
Background:
The D-8 organization, formally known as the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation or Developing-8, was established on June 15, 1997, through the Istanbul Declaration. Its primary objective is to enhance development cooperation among its member states. The key goals include strengthening member countries' positions in the global economy, creating new trade opportunities, increasing participation in international decision-making processes, and improving the quality of life in member states.
The D-8 comprises Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey, fostering mutual cooperation for development.
