Baku: In a significant development for international cooperation, Azerbaijan is hosting the inaugural D-8 Week, marking its active involvement in the D-8 Developing Countries Organization. The initiative follows discussions between President Ilham Aliyev and the D-8 Secretary General in Baku on March 4, 2025, APA-Economics reports.
According to Azeri-Press news agency, D-8 Week showcases a series of meetings involving member countries, focusing on the establishment of the D-8 Energy and Climate Center, D-8 Media Center of Excellence, and D-8 Transport Center of Excellence in Azerbaijan. The program also features the first informal meeting of D-8 Commissioners and the D-8 High-Level Dialogue on Climate and Cities.
These discussions aim to implement reforms that could transform the D-8 Organization into a robust economic bloc. New topics, including climate change, urban planning, and media cooperation, are being introduced to the D-8 agenda. Azerbaijan’s recent admission as the first new member in 27 years since the D-8’s inception highlights its growing role in international collaborations. The D-8 currently comprises Azerbaijan, Trkiye, Egypt, Nigeria, Pakistan, Iran, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Malaysia.
The D-8 High-Level Dialogue on Climate and Cities is part of Azerbaijan’s COP29 Presidency. It gathers Ministers of Climate and Urban Planning from member countries, along with D-8 Commissioners and city leaders from the region. These officials also participated in Azerbaijan’s Third National Urban Planning Forum. Egypt holds the current D-8 presidency, with Indonesia set to assume the role for two years starting January 1, 2026.