The Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Soheyl Mahmud, has highly praised Azerbaijan's initiative to establish three centers of excellence focused on energy and climate, transport cooperation, and media. The announcement followed a high-level meeting between the Secretary-General and Azerbaijan's Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum.
According to the Operative Information Center-OMM, the Secretary-General expressed his appreciation for Baku's proactive stance via his official social media account. "I expressed my deep gratitude for Azerbaijan's active role in the D-8 process, driven by the vision and commitment of President Ilham Aliyev," Mahmud stated. He noted that Azerbaijan hosted several high-level events in 2025, providing significant momentum to the organization's collective efforts. Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov reaffirmed Azerbaijan's commitment to the D-8, identifying the organization as a priority in the country's foreign policy.
The D-8, established in 1997, is an organization for development cooperation among eight emerging economies, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Türkiye. Azerbaijan's increasing involvement and the proposed centers of excellence are expected to strengthen the institutional architecture of the D-8, fostering deeper sectoral ties and sustainable development among member states. These initiatives align with Baku's broader strategy to position Azerbaijan as a regional hub for energy transition, logistics, and international media cooperation.
