The D-8 countries on Thursday agreed to explore the possibilities of developing and enhancing transport connectivity among D-8 Member States to facilitate trade and investment, including the intra-D-8 trade.

“There’s a lot of opportunities and possibilities. We’ll take initiatives to boost trade and investment and create jobs,” Foreign Minister Dr AK Abdul Momen told reporters at a virtual press conference after the 10th Summit.

State Minister for Foreign Affairs M Shahriar Alam and Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen were present.

Dr Momen said they believe that trade and investment among the D-8 countries will be increased through cooperation.  

The Summit adopted two documents – “Dhaka Declaration 2021”, and “D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030.”

Dr Momen said the D-8 leaders commended and supported the idea of the government of Bangladesh to engage the youth and ensure their participation in the new reality of 4IR through hosting the first-ever D-8 Youth Summit.

Also read: D-8 Summit: Hasina for building a better future together

If nurtured properly, the demographic asset of more than 50 percent of the D-8 populace under 24 years of age could become the fulcrum that boosts up economic growth of the Member States, according to Dhaka Declaration 2021.  

The heads of state and government/representatives of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey met virtually at the Summit under the theme “Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing the Power of Youth and Technology.”

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who took over the Chairmanship of D-8 for the next two years, led the Bangladesh delegation at the Summit.

The Summit encouraged the member states to ratify and operationalise the Preferential Trade, the Visa and the Customs Agreements as soon as possible in order to promote and ensure substantial cooperation among the member states in this vital sectoral track of cooperation.

The Summit applauded and praised the generosity and humanitarian leadership role played by different D-8 member states in accommodating displaced citizens of their neighboring countries, providing them with all means of support despite pre-existing and emergent economic challenges they are facing amidst this global pandemic of Covid-19.

Also read: D-8 Youth Summit: Dhaka for achieving SDGs engaging youth

They also supported the moral cause of their safe, voluntary, sustainable and dignified return to their own countries.

The Summit expressed deep appreciation to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for his leadership, commitment and devoted efforts in promoting the D-8 objectives during his Chairmanship of the organisation.

The D-8 leaders expressed profound appreciation to Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, the government and people of Bangladesh for successfully hosting the 10th Summit and for their warm reception and wished Prime Minister Hasina every success during her chairmanship of the organisation.

The Summit called upon the member states to cooperate in negotiations with the international pharmaceutical companies manufacturing Covid-19 vaccines, which will give advantage in quantities and prices for all the D-8 member states.

It also called upon the member states to consider the conduct of a feasibility study for establishing a Pandemic Diseases Fund to fight chronic diseases like Covid-19 and direct all the health ministries and public/private institutions to join hands together to make the best use of the existing well-equipped laboratories and research centers for pandemic diseases in line with the Declaration of the on-line Summit Meeting of the Non-Aligned.

Also read: 10th D-8 Summit today; Bangladesh to become chair for 2 years

The leaders welcomed the adoption of the D-8 Decennial Roadmap 2020-2030 and stressed the importance of effective implementation of the document.

They also urged all the stakeholders to play their role in the full implementation of the adopted Roadmap.

Egypt will host the 11th D-8 Summit. The date of the 11th Summit is to be discussed later.