Cairo: Turkiye has taken significant and concrete steps toward the effective implementation of the preferential trade agreement of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries, with plans to expand its scope and commence negotiations, Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced Tuesday. Speaking during a meeting of D-8 trade ministers in Cairo, Bolat said that Turkiye is ready to host the first negotiating session under the agreement’s expansion process.

According to Qatar News Agency, Bolat noted that participants in the meeting were determined to contribute to establishing a trade framework within the D-8 that is fairer, more inclusive, and more effective. The group comprises Turkiye, Egypt, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, and Pakistan.

The 11th D-8 summit, held last year, also witnessed the accession of Azerbaijan, bringing the total number of member states to nine.