D-8 chief urges investment talks in Baku to strengthen member ties

The Secretary General of the D-8 Economic Cooperation Organization, Isiaq Abdulqadir Imam, has called for a high-level meeting in Baku aimed at boosting investment cooperation among the member states. 

The proposed gathering will bring together investment agencies from D-8 nations to explore new ways to enhance collaboration and attract investment across the bloc.

According to D-8's post on X, the proposal was discussed during a meeting between Imam and Elnur Aliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan, per Caliber.Az.

On his official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan, @D8SecGen H.E. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam met with H.E. Mr. Elnur Əliyev, First Deputy Minister of Economy of Azerbaijan on 5 March 2025.

Ambassador Imam congratulated Azerbaijan on joining the #D8 and highlighted the… pic.twitter.com/p9KiyLmbcC

— Developing-8 (D-8) (@D8org) March 6, 2025

Imam’s proposal received a warm reception. Aliyev expressed full support for the initiative, emphasizing the importance of strengthening ties in key sectors such as transportation, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), ICT, human resources development, trade, and, of course, investment.

The two officials also discussed the growing importance of e-commerce and investment partnerships, with an agreement to continue discussions on follow-up consultations to push forward these initiatives.

Azerbaijan’s announcement of its official membership in the D-8 organization on December 19, 2024, further highlights the country’s commitment to enhancing its role within the group.

Established in 1997, the D-8 Organization, which includes Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye, represents a bloc of nations with a collective population of 1.2 billion and a combined foreign trade volume of $2.3 trillion, or roughly 5% of global trade. The organization's secretariat is based in Istanbul, and all its members are also part of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

This meeting in Baku could be a significant step toward transforming the D-8 into a more dynamic and integrated economic force on the global stage.

By Tamilla Hasanova