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D-8 summit to see discussions in six areas of economic cooperation

KUALA LUMPUR: Countries under the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation (D-8) are expected to bring to the discussion table six areas of economic cooperation at the 10th D-8 Summit.

The Foreign Ministry said the six areas would be in trade, agriculture and food security, industrial cooperation and small-medium enterprises (SMEs), transportation, energy and minerals, and tourism.

At the same time, D-8 members are expected to formulate the economic cooperation plans for the next decade.

"Leaders are also expected to adopt two outcome documents: the Dhaka Declaration and D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030.

"The Dhaka Declaration reaffirms member states' commitments towards the D-8's objectives and cooperation framework in charting D-8's future strategic direction.

"The D-8 Decennial Roadmap for 2020-2030 will guide the work of the D-8 towards the D8 achievements for the next 10 years," the ministry said in a statement.

It said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin would lead Malaysia's delegation at the 10th D-8 Summit tomorrow.

"Malaysia's participation at the Summit will demonstrate Malaysia's continued commitment and support to the initiatives under the D-8 cooperation framework," the ministry added.

The virtual summit is hosted by Bangladesh, the current chair of D-8.

The summit was today preceded by the 19th Session of the D-8 Council of Ministers, attended by Foreign Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Hussein.

The 43rd Session of the D-8 Commission was held on Monday and yesterday.

The theme for this year's D-8 Summit, "Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing the Power of Youth and Technology", is timely given the need for D-8 to explore new opportunities through the empowerment of youth and digital technology in addressing the current global economic challenges due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The D-8 Secretariat, based in Istanbul, Turkey, is led by Datuk Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, the first Malaysian to hold the secretary-general's position. He was appointed on Jan 1, 2018.

The D-8 is an organisation for economic cooperation among eight developing nations. Apart from Malaysia and Bangladesh, the other member nations are Indonesia, Pakistan, Egypt, Turkey, Iran and Nigeria.

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