Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is set to address the 11th Summit of the Developing Eight (D-8) countries, which is being held in Cairo from December 18 to 19. Established in 1997 in Istanbul, the D-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation fosters development collaboration among its member states: Egypt, Nigeria, Türkiye, Pakistan, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, and Malaysia.
The D-8 aims to enhance economic ties among its members to stimulate growth, sustain development, and improve living standards. Key focus areas include agriculture, trade, transportation, industry, energy, and tourism.
PM Shehbaz was warmly welcomed by Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi upon his arrival. He also penned his impressions in the palace visitors’ book, as reported by Radio Pakistan.
The summit, themed “Investing in Youth and Supporting SMEs: Shaping Tomorrow’s Economy,” emphasizes youth empowerment and small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as drivers of innovation, job creation, and inclusive economic growth. In his address, the Prime Minister will stress the need to invest in these areas to foster local entrepreneurship and build robust economies.
In addition, PM Shehbaz will participate in a special session on the humanitarian crisis and reconstruction challenges in Gaza and Lebanon, addressing the repercussions of Israeli aggression in the Middle East.
The summit follows the alliance’s earlier demands in June for full Palestinian membership in the United Nations and increased international pressure on Israel for a ceasefire in Gaza.
On the sidelines of the summit, PM Shehbaz engaged in discussions with key leaders, including Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to Bangladesh’s interim government, and Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto.
