Azerbaijan joins Islamic D-8: Erdogan extends warm welcome

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has welcomed Azerbaijan's accession to the Islamic (D-8).

He touched upon the topic at the 11th D-8 summit in Cairo, Egypt, Caliber.Az reports, citing Turkish media. 

“I say to brotherly Azerbaijan: 'Welcome to our D-8 family,'” he said.

Erdogan said it is necessary to “open doors” for new members and partners to develop the organization and expand its influence.

“With Azerbaijan joining our organization, we have become stronger today than yesterday,” he added.

“Islamic Eight” (D-8 - Organization for Economic Cooperation) is an international organization established in 1997 to develop economic cooperation among member countries (Türkiye, Iran, Nigeria, Egypt, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia and Bangladesh).

To recap, founded in 1997 in Türkiye, the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) summit, chaired by Egypt on December 19, features a special session focused on Palestine and Lebanon, according to Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty.

Established to bolster economic ties among its eight member states — Egypt, Türkiye, Bangladesh, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan — the D-8 focuses on key sectors such as agriculture, trade, transportation, industry, energy, and tourism. The summit provides a platform for addressing pressing global and regional economic challenges while promoting sustainable development and improved living standards across member nations.

The summit, which brings together Türkiye, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Bangladesh, will be a significant platform for addressing both regional and global issues. Founded in 1997 in Türkiye, the D-8 aims to strengthen economic and social ties between its members.

By Khagan Isayev