D-8 summit may adopt roadmap for economic ties
Monday, 7 July 2008
Chief Adviser Dr Fakhruddin Ahmed leaves for Kuala Lumpur Monday to attend the 6th D-8 Summit in the Malaysian capital Tuesday, which is going to adopt a new economic cooperation agenda, reports UNB.
The summit meet of the heads of state or government of the eight prominent Muslim countries is expected to adopt D-8 Roadmap for Economic Cooperation in the Second Decade of Cooperation (2008-2018).
The theme of this year's D-8 summit is 'Meeting Challenges through Innovative Cooperation', which calls for charting out newer modes of interaction among the member-countries.
However, the D-8 countries are yet to agree on the preferential trade agreement, Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said who is now in Malaysian capital.
"Some differences still remain, which will have to be worked out. We would like decisions to be on the basis of consensus. I am sure we will be able to reach agreement on this as well," he said
Foreign Adviser also said Sunday that at least three major proposals of Bangladesh have been included in the draft declaration to be issued at the end of the current D-8 Summit.
"These have to do with the rights of migrant workers, recognition of climate change as a major threat to all including D-8 countries and the establishment of a food bank by the group. All these are of major interests to Bangladesh", he said.
The 2008 meet is also expected to adopt a decision on setting up D-8 permanent Secretariat.
The one-day summit is also likely to adopt Kuala Lumpur Declaration and endorse the Rules of OriginProtocol of D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement.
There is also a schedule for retreat of the heads of state or government.
The D-8 Secretariat is based in Istanbul, Turkey, while the post of Secretary General is currently held by Dr Dipo Alam from Indonesia.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin along with his entourage is scheduled to fly from Zia International Airport by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 10:30 am.
The Developing 8 Countries, known as D-8, was set up in 1997 comprising eight developing Muslim countries -- Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Nigeria and Egypt.
The D-8 embarked on its journey as an economic alliance with an aim to improve the economic status of the developing Muslim countries through diversification of their economies by creating new opportunities by means of enhanced trade relations.
On the first day in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday, the CA is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the President of Iran and the Prime Minister of Pakistan in addition to a meeting with the Bangladesh community in Malaysia.
Apart from delivering the country's statement at the summit on Tuesday, the head of caretaker government will also have a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abduallah Ahmad Badawi on the sidelines of the summit.
In the opening session, Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi will deliver the inaugural address to be followed by handover of the group's chairmanship by President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Badawi.
The summit was hosted last by Indonesia, the current chair of the bloc, in Bali on May 13, 2006. The meet is held once every two years, Bangladesh having hosted the second one in 1999. For Malaysia, it will be the first to host the D-8 Summit.
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Adviser's Principal Secretary Ali Imam Majumder and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim are also on the Bangladesh delegation to be led by the Chief Adviser.
The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home later at night on the day (July 8).
The summit meet of the heads of state or government of the eight prominent Muslim countries is expected to adopt D-8 Roadmap for Economic Cooperation in the Second Decade of Cooperation (2008-2018).
The theme of this year's D-8 summit is 'Meeting Challenges through Innovative Cooperation', which calls for charting out newer modes of interaction among the member-countries.
However, the D-8 countries are yet to agree on the preferential trade agreement, Foreign Advisor Dr. Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury said who is now in Malaysian capital.
"Some differences still remain, which will have to be worked out. We would like decisions to be on the basis of consensus. I am sure we will be able to reach agreement on this as well," he said
Foreign Adviser also said Sunday that at least three major proposals of Bangladesh have been included in the draft declaration to be issued at the end of the current D-8 Summit.
"These have to do with the rights of migrant workers, recognition of climate change as a major threat to all including D-8 countries and the establishment of a food bank by the group. All these are of major interests to Bangladesh", he said.
The 2008 meet is also expected to adopt a decision on setting up D-8 permanent Secretariat.
The one-day summit is also likely to adopt Kuala Lumpur Declaration and endorse the Rules of OriginProtocol of D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement.
There is also a schedule for retreat of the heads of state or government.
The D-8 Secretariat is based in Istanbul, Turkey, while the post of Secretary General is currently held by Dr Dipo Alam from Indonesia.
Chief Adviser Fakhruddin along with his entourage is scheduled to fly from Zia International Airport by a flight of Biman Bangladesh Airlines at 10:30 am.
The Developing 8 Countries, known as D-8, was set up in 1997 comprising eight developing Muslim countries -- Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Nigeria and Egypt.
The D-8 embarked on its journey as an economic alliance with an aim to improve the economic status of the developing Muslim countries through diversification of their economies by creating new opportunities by means of enhanced trade relations.
On the first day in Kuala Lumpur Tuesday, the CA is scheduled to have bilateral meetings with the President of Iran and the Prime Minister of Pakistan in addition to a meeting with the Bangladesh community in Malaysia.
Apart from delivering the country's statement at the summit on Tuesday, the head of caretaker government will also have a bilateral meeting with Malaysian Prime Minister Abduallah Ahmad Badawi on the sidelines of the summit.
In the opening session, Malaysian Prime Minister Badawi will deliver the inaugural address to be followed by handover of the group's chairmanship by President of Indonesia Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to Badawi.
The summit was hosted last by Indonesia, the current chair of the bloc, in Bali on May 13, 2006. The meet is held once every two years, Bangladesh having hosted the second one in 1999. For Malaysia, it will be the first to host the D-8 Summit.
Foreign Adviser Dr Iftekhar Ahmed Chowdhury, Chief Adviser's Principal Secretary Ali Imam Majumder and CA's Press Secretary Syed Fahim Munaim are also on the Bangladesh delegation to be led by the Chief Adviser.
The Chief Adviser is scheduled to return home later at night on the day (July 8).