Baku, March 5, 2025 – The Europe Today: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, received Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, in Baku on March 4.
During the meeting, President Ilham Aliyev expressed gratitude to the member states for their unanimous decision regarding Azerbaijan’s accession to the D-8 Organization. He emphasized that as a full member, Azerbaijan would actively contribute to the organization’s development. The President highlighted that Azerbaijan is the first country to join the D-8 since its establishment, viewing this decision as a mark of respect and strong friendship among the member states.
President Aliyev further noted that Azerbaijan maintains constructive bilateral relations with D-8 member countries, grounded in mutual national interests. He stressed the importance of fostering ties between Azerbaijan’s relevant institutions and the organization, emphasizing the significance of expanding the organization’s geographical scope to include the Caspian Sea and the Caucasus region. In this regard, he underscored Azerbaijan’s pivotal role in enhancing the organization’s engagement in the region.
The President also expressed hope that Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam’s visit to Azerbaijan would be fruitful.
Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, in response, expressed his appreciation for the meeting and extended his congratulations to Azerbaijan on its membership in the organization, as well as on the occasion of the holy month of Ramadan. He further commended Azerbaijan’s successful COP29 presidency, noting the significant climate-related decisions adopted under the country’s leadership.
Highlighting the vast economic and trade potential of the D-8, which represents 1.2 billion people, the Secretary-General reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to strengthening economic and trade relations among its members. He expressed confidence that Azerbaijan’s inclusion would bring valuable contributions to the D-8’s agenda and development.
The meeting also included discussions on future cooperation within the D-8 framework, covering key areas such as energy, climate action, trade, small and medium-sized enterprises, youth development, media, and other mutual interests.
