D-8 observer believes organisation provides a voice for developing countries
Jakarta (ANTARA) - International relations analyst Andrea Abdul Rahman Azzqy believes the Developing Eight (D-8) organisation remains economically relevant as it provides a platform for developing countries to voice their interests.
The D-8 is an economic cooperation organisation for developing countries, consisting of Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey, and Azerbaijan, with Azerbaijan joining in December 2024.
“So, the relevance of the D-8 is not measured by the size of the countries, but rather by the space it provides for developing countries to voice their opinions,” said Andrea when contacted by ANTARA in Jakarta on Wednesday.
In addition to promoting general economic cooperation, the D-8 also emphasises inclusive trade in the fields of food, energy, and technology.
“Its scale is clearly smaller than the G20 or the WTO, but it provides a space for its member countries to voice their interests without being dominated by developed countries,” he said.
According to him, the organisation can also consolidate a common agenda to improve collective bargaining power in international negotiations.
The biggest opportunity for the D-8 is to expand trade cooperation among members and develop alternative financing mechanisms outside the dominance of the US dollar.
Andrea added that cooperation in research and innovation is believed to promote an economic model that benefits the Developing Eight countries.
With a geographical scope covering South Asia, Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, the D-8 is considered increasingly strategic as an economic balancing bloc and a driver of South-South economic cooperation.
As the culmination of the series of chairmanships, Indonesia will host the 12th D-8 Summit in Jakarta in April 2026, which will be preceded by a high-level meeting and a meeting of foreign ministers.
The D-8 Summit will be themed “Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equity, Solidarity, and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity”.