Islamabad ,(Parliament Times):
The Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Islamabad, in collaboration with the International Institute for Regional and International Studies (IIRIS), organized a discussion session titled “Towards the D-8 Summit: The Relevance of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Amid Global Challenges” at the Indonesian Corner, National Library of Pakistan in Islamabad.
The session was attended by Shafqat Rasool, President of IIRIS; Donny Ardiwidha, First Secretary for Political Affairs at the Indonenesian Embassy; and Rahmat Hindiarta Kusuma, Coordinator for the Information, Social, and Cultural Affairs at the Indonesian Embassy.
The event brought together Indonesian students from the International Islamic University Islamabad and Pakistani students from QAU, NDU, Bahria University, Riphah International University, and NUML.
Rasool welcomed diplomats, speakers, and students from Pakistan and Indonesia, emphasizing the importance of academic dialogue in strengthening multilateral cooperation and mutual understanding among D-8 member states.
Kusuma provided an overview of Indonesia’s chairmanship of the D-8 for the 2026–2027 period. He elaborated on the theme “Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equality, Solidarity, and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity.”
Indonesia’s chairmanship will prioritize five key areas: economic and trade integration, halal economy development, blue economy and green transition, connectivity and digital transformation, and institutional reform. He also announced that a Special Session on Palestine will be included in the upcoming D-8 Summit agenda. “This is as part of Indonesia’s commitment to humanity and solidarity,” he added
The keynote address was delivered by Dr. M. Saeed Uzzaman, HoD of International Relations at NUML Rawalpindi, highlighted the potential of D-8 as a dynamic South–South economic bloc, provided that member states enhance intra-D-8 trade, address connectivity gaps, strengthen logistics and maritime integration, and improve institutional capacity. He emphasized that such measures could increase intra-D-8 trade to more than USD 500 billion, contribute to a combined GDP of USD 8–10 trillion, and create over 50 million new jobs across D-8 member countries.
In his presentation titled “The Strength of D-8 Countries in Global Competition,” Ardiwidha underscored the strategic geographical positions of D-8 member states, which encompass three major global trade routes: the Strait of Malacca, the Suez Canal, and the Bosphorus Strait. “D-8 is a small group with a big impact,” he remarked.
The event concluded with an engaging question-and-answer session, during which students, scholars, and participants actively exchanged views with the speakers on the future of D-8 cooperation and the role of youth and academia in strengthening economic partnerships among D-8 member states.The final session of the series is scheduled to take place after the Eid al-Fitr holiday.