The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum, held under the theme “Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion,” opened in Baku with the participation of heads of media institutions, leading media organizations from D-8 member states, high-ranking officials, and prominent experts.
Hikmet Hajiyev, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, first delivered President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the Forum participants.
In his remarks, D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam emphasized the significance of cooperation in media and communication sectors alongside economic collaboration. “Azerbaijan, as a new member, has contributed to the organization through its outstanding initiatives. The roadmap was defined at the D-8 High-Level Climate and Urban Dialogue, held last month,” he said. He described the hosting of the first D-8 Media Forum in Baku as a significant milestone.
The Secretary-General noted that the organization seeks to expand its influence by strengthening its international media presence through the establishment of a general broadcasting association, journalism schools, and scholarship programs within member states, aiming to create a prominent center of excellence for media development within the D-8 group.
Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar noted that since joining the D-8 family, Azerbaijan has made considerable efforts toward its institutional development. Highlighting the major transformations occurring in the global information landscape due to rapid technological advancements such as AI and quantum computing, as well as geopolitical factors, he stressed that digital media ecosystems are becoming increasingly important for public trust as traditional media declines.
Other notable speakers — including Noor Md Mahbubul Haq, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh; Essam El-Amir, Deputy Chairman of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation of Egypt; Agustaviano Sofjan, Senior Policy Advisor for Multilateral Affairs at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Alireza Miryousefi Aval, Director General of Foreign Media and Deputy Spokesperson of Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; Bora Bayraktar, Head of the Strategic Communication and Crisis Management Department at the Presidency’s Directorate of Communications of Türkiye; and others — underscored the need for close interaction among D-8 member states to enhance dialogue, cooperation, and coordination.
They highlighted the importance of the organization, noting that with its large human resources, economic potential, and rich cultural diversity, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation can serve not only as a regional platform but also as a union with global influence. The speakers described the Forum as a clear manifestation of friendship, cooperation, and mutual trust among member states, with media development emphasized as a strategically important area of collaboration.
The Forum continued with panel sessions.