UNIDO at the 10th Summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation

UNIDO attended the 10th Summit of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation on “Partnership for a Transformative World: Harnessing the Power of Youth and Technology” held virtually on 8 April 2021. This year’s high level Summit hosted by the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh was attended by Heads of States/Governments of eight D-8 Member States, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey.

The Summit was marked by handing over of the Chairmanship of  the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation by Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, President of Turkey, to Sheikh Hasina, Prime Minister of Bangladesh, for the next two years.

Facing the rapid Fourth Industrial Revolution and COVID-19 pandemic that is rattling the global economy, the leaders are putting emphasis on more connectivity, trade, technology, education, and employment that have been reflected in this year's Summit.  Addressing the Summit, Imran Khan, Prime Minister of Pakistan, noted that harnessing technology, promoting innovation and investing in youth education, skills and training is an urgent imperative.

D-8 was established in 1997 to promote economic and development cooperation among eight Member States. The D-8 objectives, inter alia, include improving developing countries’ position in the world economy, diversifying new opportunities in trade relations, and enhancing participation in decision-making at the international level. Priority areas of cooperation in the D-8 include: trade, industry, agriculture and food security, energy, transportation, and tourism.

For further information contact dta [at] unido.org (dta[at]unido[dot]org)