Sohail engages Turkish leadership to boost trade, climate and innovation cooperation

2026-02-28 - 00:13

The Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, undertook a high-level official visit to Ankara from 23 to 25 February 2026 — his first since assuming office on 1 January 2026. The visit reaffirmed Türkiye’s pivotal role as a founding member, host of the D-8 Secretariat, and a key contributor to the Organization’s evolution since its inception. The Secretary-General was accompanied by a delegation comprising H.E. Ambassador Mustafa Özcan, Director-I of the D-8 Secretariat, and Mr. Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant. The visit commenced with a working Iftar hosted by H.E. Ambassador Aylin Sekizkök, the D-8 Commissioner of Türkiye, for the D-8 delegation. The engagement provided an opportunity to review institutional priorities — including ongoing reform initiatives, strengthening coordination between the Secretariat and the host country, and preparations for the 12th D-8 Summit in Jakarta. Discussions underscored the importance of Türkiye’s pivotal role in supporting the Secretariat’s transformation agenda and enhancing the D-8’s overall organizational capacity. On 24 February, the Secretary-General had meetings with senior leadership the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, including Deputy Ministers H.E. Musa Kulaklıkaya and H.E. Berris Ekinci. The comprehensive exchanges with Ambassador Ekinci focused on the D-8’s present and future trajectory, strengthening the Secretariat’s human and financial resource base, streamlining institutional structures and processes, expanding international outreach, and working for concrete outcomes of the Jakarta Summit. In his call on H.E. Hakan Fidan, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Secretary-General Sohail Mahmood conveyed profound appreciation for Türkiye’s generous support as host country since the establishment of the D-8 Secretariat and as a vital pillar of the Organization’s strategic direction. Noting Türkiye’s major initiatives like the Antalya Diplomacy Forum (ADF) and Presidency of COP31, the Secretary-General highlighted the global salience of D-8 Member States in geo-strategic and geo-economic terms and the Organization’s overall potential to play a seminal role at the regional and global levels. He also briefed the Foreign Minister on his priorities as Secretary General, the ongoing efforts to advance institutional reform process, strengthening D-8’s global outreach, and ensuring impactful outcomes of the Jakarta Summit.