Indonesia to host 2012 D-8 ministerial meeting

Indonesia to host 2012 D-8 ministerial meeting

2011-05-18 21:07:23 GMT+7 (ICT)

JAKARTA, INDONESIA (BNO NEWS) -- Indonesia on Wednesday was appointed as host of the third Developing-8 (D-8) Ministerial Meeting, which is scheduled to take place in 2012.

The decision was made during Tuesday's D-8 Senior Officials Meeting held in Tehran, Iran, Yulistyo Mudho, the head of Indonesia's marine affairs and fisheries ministry's statistic data center, told Antara news agency.

The second D-8 Ministerial Meeting is to be held on Thursday, where member states will focus on the private sector, Yulistyo said.

With fishery products exports worth $43.62 million, Indonesia is the largest fishery product exporter in the D-8, and is expected to submit project cooperation proposals to boost trade among member states, such as harmonization of fishery safety and quality guarantee systems, certification of fish catch results, and promotion of investment in Indonesia's small islands.

Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad, who will lead the Indonesian delegation during Thursday's meeting, said they will also push to establish a Working Group on Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Officially established on June 15, 1997 through the Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government, the D-8 is made up of Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.

According to the group, the objectives of the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation are to improve member states' position in the global economy, diversify and create new opportunities in trade relations, enhance participation in decision-making at international level, and improve standards of living.

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