Prime Minister Ashraf to inaugurate D-8 meeting on Monday

Prime Minister Raja Pervez Ashraf today (Monday) will inaugurate a four-day meeting of the Developing-8 (D-8) countries to formulate a strategy to enhance their share in global trade by 15 per cent by 2018.

Secretary of the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) Abdul Qadeer Qazi while addressing a press conference said, “The D-8 countries’ share in global trade has already increased from $67 billion in 2008 to $130 billion last year, which is almost double, and in this event a strategy will be chalked out to increase their share by 15 per cent.”

On sidelines of the summit to be held at the Pak-China Friendship Centre significant activities, including a trade exhibition, a meeting of heads of trade promotion organizations of member countries and an interactive seminar on exploring trade opportunities among the D-8 countries will also be held, he added.

According to him, the premier will also inaugurate the exhibition on the same day while President Asif Ali Zardari will be the chief guest at the concluding session which will focus on democratic partnership for peace and prosperity.

It is vital to mention here that leaders and representatives from Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria and Turkey will participate in the event. This development will project Pakistan as a business destination and underscore the linkage of democracy with peace and development.

Presidents Mohamed Morsi of Egypt, Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono of Indonesia, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of Nigeria and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Turkey will attend the summit. Malaysia is likely to be represented by its deputy prime minister and Bangladesh by its foreign minister.

Despite having initially agreed to attend the meeting, Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid has informed Pakistan of her inability to do so.

Media reports said Bangladesh had sought an apology for war crimes allegedly committed during the 1971 war. Pakistan has said it had already expressed regrets at different forms and that “it is time to move forward”.

The event will mark the visit to the country by an Egyptian president after four decades and that of a Nigerian leader after 28 years. The TDAP secretary said the agenda for enhancing global trade had been set in 2008 but it would be thoroughly debated this time.

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Posted by Web Desk on Nov 19 2012. Filed under Latest News, National, Pakistan. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.