Bangladesh
Sheikh Hasina | D-8 PM stresses the importance of building a strong economic bloc of D-8 countries
Own Correspondent, Dhaka, July 28: Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina emphasized on working together to harness the potential of the D-8 member countries to become a powerful economic bloc.
She also put forward a five-point proposal that included implementing preferential trade agreements (PTAs) among member nations. This has the potential to maximize trade potential and double intra-D-8 trade to $129 billion over the next decade.
"Therefore, let us work together to harness our potential towards a prosperous future," the Prime Minister said in a speech to mark the 25th anniversary of the D-8 International Alliance for Economic Cooperation and the inauguration of the 20th session of the D-8 Foreign Ministers in Dhaka on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister joined the event virtually from her official residence Ganobhaban at Hotel Intercontinental in the capital. She expressed satisfaction that Bangladesh celebrated this historic moment as the president of the organization.
The Prime Minister said that D-8, established 25 years ago, is now ready to meet the goals of economic development through coordination. She said, this has been made possible through political commitment and meaningful collaboration between our public and private sectors.
Sheikh Hasina said, "If our immense potential is realized properly, then the strength as an economic block will increase."
The Prime Minister said that he was happy to hear that the D-8 countries including Bangladesh, Pakistan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey are finalizing preferential trade agreements.
She further said, 'It will help to harmonize inter-country trade. Liberalize barriers and stimulate trade and economic cooperation among member countries.'
The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction over the participation of representatives of various Member State Chambers, businessmen, entrepreneurs in the second D-8 CCI General Session and Business Expo on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministerial Session.
She said, at a time when we are all reeling from the Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict has thrown the world into new danger.
Foreign Minister Dr. AK Abdul Momen, D-8 Secretary General Ambassador Isiaka Abdul Qadir Imam, State Minister for Foreign Affairs Md. Shahriar Alam and President of D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industries (D-8CCI) Sheikh Fazle Fahim spoke on the occasion.
