Developing 8 (D-8 Countries) is a formation aimed at enhancing economic and trade cooperation among its member countries. The first step toward its establishment was taken on October 22, 1996, with the "Conference on Cooperation in Development" held in Istanbul at the invitation of Türkiye. This conference was attended by Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Nigeria. Following subsequent meetings, the D-8 was officially established on June 15, 1997, during the Summit of Heads of State/Government held in Istanbul.
The member countries of the D-8 are Türkiye, Iran, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Egypt, and Nigeria. These countries are also members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and stand out within the OIC due to their levels of technological and economic development, trade potential, and population size.
Cooperation within the D-8 framework is primarily carried out on a sectoral basis, with each member country responsible for coordinating activities in one or more sectors. Türkiye oversees activities related to industry, health, and environment; Bangladesh focuses on rural development; Indonesia works on poverty alleviation and human resource development; Iran is responsible for science and technology; Malaysia manages finance, banking, and privatization; Egypt focuses on trade; Nigeria handles energy; and Pakistan leads efforts in agriculture and fisheries. To date, the organization has convened 29 sectoral ministerial and senior official meetings, fostering cooperation among the member states.
More details about the organization can be found on its official website: https://developing8.org/.