Ankara (GNP): H.E. Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), undertook an official visit to Ankara from 15 to 17 June 2026 to participate in the 51st Session of the D-8 Commission and events commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Establishment of D8.
The 51st Session of the D-8 Commission, hosted by the Republic of Türkiye under the Chairmanship of the Arab Republic of Egypt, brought together Commissioners and senior representatives of all D-8 Member States to review progress since the previous Session and chart the Organization’s future direction.
The Commission considered a comprehensive report presented by the Secretary-General on the activities of the Secretariat during the first half of 2026, highlighting significant progress in strengthening international partnerships, expanding sectoral cooperation, enhancing the visibility of the Organization, and advancing initiatives in trade, energy, tourism, SMEs, agriculture, science and technology, youth, and connectivity.
The Commission also reviewed preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit to be held in Jakarta, progress on measures for reform and institutional capacity-building, financial and administrative matters, and implementation of the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030.
The Commission also welcomed Egypt’s announcement of the ratification of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and the Dispute Settlement Mechanism (DSM), a significant development expected to contribute to deeper economic integration and increased intra-D-8 trade.
A key highlight of the visit was the reception commemorating the 29th Anniversary of the Establishment of D-8 (15 June), hosted by the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and attended by Commissioners, Heads of Delegation, diplomats, senior government officials, representatives of international organizations, academia, business leaders, and members of the diplomatic community. The reception was graciously hosted by Deputy Foreign Minister Ambassador Berris Ekinci. A special message from H.E. Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan was read out on the occasion.
Addressing the gathering, Secretary-General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood paid tribute to the visionary leadership of the late Prime Minister Prof. Dr. Necmettin Erbakan and reflected on the significant evolution of D-8 since its establishment in Istanbul in 1997. He noted that what began as a pioneering initiative among eight developing countries was now transforming into a dynamic trans-Continental organization representing more than 1.28 billion people and a combined GDP exceeding USD 5.2 trillion.
The Secretary-General highlighted the growing strategic relevance of D-8 in an increasingly complex global environment marked by geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainties, climate crisis, technological disruption, and growing inequalities. He emphasized the Organization’s expanding role in promoting South-South cooperation, economic integration, sustainable development, and multilateral engagement.
He further underscored recent achievements, including the accession of Azerbaijan as the 9th Member State; the successful convening of the first-ever Meeting of D-8 Ministers of Energy in Baku; the D-8 High-Level Energy and Urban Dialogue held during the World Urban Forum in Baku; and the ongoing efforts to establish the D-8 Energy and Climate Center, D-8 Transport Excellence Center, and D-8 Media Excellence Center in Azerbaijan. He also highlighted the D-8’s expanding international engagement with the United Nations system and regional organizations, including FAO, COMSTECH, COMSATS, OTS, and BSEC.
On the sidelines of the session, the Secretary-General held consultations with H.E. Fuat Oktay, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, focusing on regional developments, preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit, and strengthening economic cooperation among Member States.
The Secretary-General also met with Mr. Abdullah Eren, President of TİKA, to explore cooperation in capacity-building, digital transformation, youth and women’s entrepreneurship, agriculture, and health, with both sides agreeing to establish a platform for collaboration among Member States’ development agencies.
He reaffirmed the Secretariat’s commitment to building a stronger, future-oriented D-8 that delivers tangible benefits to its peoples and contributes to global peace and prosperity.
Also Read: UNESCO Education Financing Summit 2026 Tackles Global Crisis
In a separate meeting with Mr. Ahmet Serdar İbrahimcioğlu, President of KOSGEB, discussions focused on strengthening cooperation in support of SMEs, entrepreneurship, innovation, digital transformation, Artificial Intelligence, technology development, and start-up ecosystems.
The two sides explored opportunities for capacity-building programmes, cooperation among innovation centres and Technoparks, and possible mechanisms to support SME financing and regional value-chain integration.
While the 51st Session of the Commission was instrumental in advancing the broader D-8 agenda, the Secretary General’s interactions with the Parliamentary Committee Chairman and key senior officials in Ankara contributed to promoting practical cooperation initiatives in development, entrepreneurship, innovation, and sustainable economic growth across the D-8 region
