Ilham Aliyev received Secretary-General of D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation

President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, on March 4.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed his gratitude to the member states for their unanimous decision to approve Azerbaijan’s accession to the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation. He emphasized that, as a full member, Azerbaijan would actively contribute to the organization's development. The President noted that Azerbaijan is the first country to join the D-8 since its establishment, describing this as a sign of respect from the member states and a testament to the strong friendship among them.

He further stated that Azerbaijan maintains productive and constructive bilateral relations with D-8 member countries, based on shared national interests. Emphasizing the importance of fostering ties between Azerbaijan’s relevant institutions and the organization, President Aliyev highlighted the significance of expanding the D-8’s geographical reach to the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region. In this regard, he underscored Azerbaijan’s role as a key country in facilitating the organization’s closer engagement with the region.

President Ilham Aliyev expressed hope that Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam’s visit to Azerbaijan would be productive.

Expressing his appreciation for the meeting, the Secretary-General congratulated Azerbaijan on its membership in the D-8 and extended his best wishes for the holy month of Ramadan. He also congratulated the President on Azerbaijan’s successful COP29 presidency, emphasizing that significant decisions on the climate agenda were adopted under the country’s leadership.

Noting that the D-8 comprises member states with a combined population of 1.2 billion and possesses substantial economic and trade potential, the Secretary-General stated that the organization’s core mission is to enhance economic and trade relations among its members. He expressed confidence that Azerbaijan would make a meaningful contribution to the organization’s growth and the implementation of its agenda.

The meeting also included discussions on prospects for cooperation within the D-8 framework in areas such as energy, climate action, trade, small and medium-sized enterprise development, youth engagement, media, and other topics of mutual interest.