Iranian Energy Minister Ali Akbar Mehrabian says politics has overshadowed the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation as he expresses hope that the organization could return to its core mission which is to foster economic growth in member states.

Mehrabian made the remarks in a meeting with D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam in Tehran on Wednesday.

The minister said that Iran has been a key member of the D-8 since its inception in 1997 and has always supported the organization and its objectives.

“Other regional organizations have performed better than the D-8 in recent years. Thus it is necessary for the D-8 to return to its core missions,” he said, adding that member states should seek to set aside their differences and commit to their responsibilities vis-à-vis the organization.

Mehrabian said he welcomes a proposal by Iranian Foreign Ministry to hold a summit of D-8 energy ministers in Tehran.

Imam, for his part, said the D-8 secretariat seeks to activate more trade potentials between members of the organization.

He said trade between D-8 members could reach some $500 billion by 2030, up from a current figure of $137 billion per year.

The D-8 is comprised of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkiye.

 

 

By PRESS TV