Azerbaijan Elected as New Member of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation

Azerbaijan was unanimously elected as a member of the Developing Eight Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) during the 11th summit of the group held on Thursday in Cairo, Egypt.

Azerbaijan's entry in the D-8 marked the first admission of a new member country since its establishment in 1996.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to the D-8 members for welcoming Azerbaijan as part of the organization’s first expansion in nearly 30 years.

"Support for Azerbaijan's candidacy is a testament to our sincere friendship and cooperation with these countries,” President Aliyev said in a social media post. “I assure my colleagues that Azerbaijan, together with other member states, will spare no effort in contributing to the further development of the organization and the strengthening of Islamic solidarity."

Azerbaijan first participated in the D-8 during the 9th Summit held in Istanbul in 2017, where President Aliyev attended as a special guest.

The D-8, also known as the "Islamic Eight", comprises countries with a combined population representing 60 percent of the global Muslim community and substantial economic potential.

The Foreign Ministry stated that Azerbaijan's inclusion in the D-8 reflects the growing influence of the country in international affairs and the trust it achieved on the global stage.

“Our country, which prioritizes justice and norms and principles of international law as its main objective, will play an important role in protecting the fundamental principles of D-8 and deepening cooperation within the Organization,” the ministry’s statement read.

“D-8 membership of Azerbaijan, which has played a bridge role between East and West throughout its history and is one of the main cultural, religious and civilizational hubs of the Islamic world, will also be a great contribution to strengthening Islamic Solidarity, promoting Islamic values in the world and combating Islamophobia.”

As a new member, Baku eyes fostering security, stability, prosperity, and mutually beneficial collaboration across the broader region, as well as enhancing partnerships in economic, trade, transport, communication, and other critical areas.

Azerbaijani parliamentarian Vugar Bayramov said Azerbaijan’s inclusion will help facilitate the economic development among the D-8 member countries and in a broader regional scope.

“The D-8 countries, with a nominal GDP of $5.199 trillion and a real GDP of $18.182 trillion, account for 63.0% of the Muslim world's population, which represents 16.0% of the global population. Trade turnover among these countries exceeds $150 billion,” Vugar Bayramov wrote, adding that Azerbaijan's membership in the D-8 opens new opportunities for strengthening its economic development and geopolitical position.

The D-8 was established in 1996 in Istanbul through the Development Cooperation Conference initiated by Türkiye, which also included Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan. The organization was inaugurated during a summit of heads of state and government from these eight countries in 1997, in Istanbul. The D-8 Secretariat is headquartered in Istanbul.

Unlike many other international organizations, the D-8 is perceived global rather than regional in terms of its principles and the geographical area it covers. Membership stands on the inclusivity principle as it is open to all developing countries. All D-8 nations are also members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and are recognized as leading contributors to the OIC in terms of economic, technological, and demographic potential.

The D-8 focuses on key areas such as agriculture and food security, trade, transportation, industry, and energy. Additionally, it engages in health and tourism initiatives. Collaboration within the organization is ensured on a sectoral basis, mandating each member country to coordinate specific fields.