Secretary-General of D-8 Pays Courtesy Call on H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, 18th April 2022
Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba, on the 18th of April 2022, hosted H.E. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, the Secretary-General of (D-8).
H.E. Ambassador Mohamed Hassan Kaisamba (L) with H.E. Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam
Stating the reason for his visit, H.E. Ambassador Imam said that he met H.E President Julius Bio of the Republic of Sierra Leone in Antalya Türkiye, where he informed the President about the D-8 organization. He briefed Ambassador Kaisamba that D-8 was established in 1997 by the Heads of State of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Türkiye.
With its secretariat in Istanbul, the D-8 is an economic organization Türkiye was primarily established to promote economic cooperation with the aim of improving the living standard among its founding member states. To achieve this, the D-8 has established many sectorial programmes, including trade and investment, agriculture and food security, industry and small-medium enterprise, transport, tourism and health.
To further enhance economic cooperation and create inclusiveness among member countries, Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam stated that the D-8 had been established in some countries: D-8 health and social security Protection Programme as well as the D-8 International University in Nigeria and Iran, respectively, in a bid to address issues relating to health, social protection and human resource development. He further explained that D-8 had established its Agricultural research centre, D-8-Network of pioneers for research and Innovation (D-8-NPRI) and D-8 Technology Transfer Network (D-8-TTEN) in Pakistan to address issues that are related to agriculture cooperation, ICT and research development.
He continued that as they are preparing to celebrate their anniversary on the 25th of June this year, several organizations are working on new initiatives such as the establishment of an eco-system, capacity building programmes across sectoral cooperation, special economic Zone across D-8 member countries, D-8 payment cards, D-8 creative Economy and Financial Center. He further impressed that once these initiatives are achieved, they will fast track the socio-economic development in all D-8 member countries.
Having stated all these laudable developmental strides, H.E Imam said he has the honour to invite Sierra Leone as an esteemed country to consider joining the D-8 in the not too distant future so that they can all benefit from its economic success.
In response, Ambassador Kaisamba expressed his appreciation of the visit and stated that the objectives of D-8 are in line with the vision of H.E President Julius Maada Bio. Furthermore, he expressed his utmost desire to see the D-8 grow by including more African countries to grow and develop their peoples and nations. On the issue of Sierra Leone, Ambassador Kaisamba promised that all relevant information and details would be transmitted to the appropriate authorities in Sierra Leone for further action.
Both parties assured each other to work closely to further strengthen the relationship.
For more inquiries:
HAWA GEORGETTE TUCKER
Information Attaché
Sierra Leone Embassy
Ankara Turkey
+905373554899
Email address: htucker@sierraleoneembassy.org.tr