The Secretary General of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation, Sohail Mahmood, met several senior Turkish political and government leaders during his visit to Ankara to strengthen economic cooperation and prepare for the upcoming D-8 summit scheduled later this year.
During a meeting at the presidential palace, Mahmood held discussions with Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz. Both sides stressed the need to make the organisation more active, strategic, and result-oriented. They also agreed that the recent expansion of D-8 with the inclusion of Azerbaijan should be used as an opportunity to strengthen the institution through reforms and improved financial capacity. Turkey reaffirmed its commitment as a founding member to support the organisation’s global role and expressed good wishes for the next summit planned in Jakarta in April 2026.
Mahmood also met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, where discussions focused on expanding economic cooperation among member countries and adopting joint strategies in response to changing global trade conditions. Both leaders agreed that the D-8 platform offers Muslim-majority developing nations an important opportunity to increase their influence in the global economy, while Turkey pledged to continue playing a leading role within the organisation.
In talks with Environment Minister Murat Kurum, both sides discussed cooperation on climate issues and preparations for the upcoming COP31 conference. The meeting highlighted the importance of sustainable development, environmental partnerships, and joint projects among D-8 countries to address global challenges.
The Secretary General also held discussions with Turkish Commerce Minister Ömer Bolat, focusing on increasing trade among member states and implementing the Preferential Trade Agreement more effectively. The Turkish minister said the organisation had gained new strength after Azerbaijan joined and could become an important platform for fair and inclusive economic cooperation across the Islamic world.
In a separate meeting, Deputy Foreign Minister Musa Kulaklıkaya congratulated Mahmood on assuming his new role. Both sides discussed improving the organisational structure and ensuring that future initiatives deliver practical benefits to people in member countries.
The D-8 organisation, established in 1997, includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. It aims to promote economic collaboration, enhance member countries’ positions in the global economy, and strengthen cooperation at the international level.
The observers believe that Mahmood’s visit reflects strong ties between Turkey and the D-8 and will play an important role in preparations for the Jakarta summit, potentially helping transform the organisation into a more active and influential economic bloc.
