What D-8 and G-8 promise?

What D-8 and G-8 promise?


The first week of July this year witnessed two significant summits organized by both developed and developing countries known as D-8 and G-8 groups which were held in Malaysia and Japan respectively. The first one was the significant gathering of government leaders of some of the largest Islamic countries Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Egypt and Nigeria. And G-8 summit was glorified by eight leaders of the world’s eight richest top industrial powers namely USA, Japan, Germany, UK, Italy, Russia and France and Canada. Leaders of these richest top industrial powers vowed to act to bring down soaring oil prices and food prices but failed to bridge deep difference with poor nationals on how to fight climate. But climatic issue at least sensitized them.This group wrapped up three days of talk in a secluded mountain resort in Japan by inviting leaders of growing emerging economics such as China and India for a special session summit on global warming. Bush hailed the summit as very productive as he said” I’m pleased to report that we have had significant success.”


Leaders from D-8 group of developing nations on 7 July adopted an ambitious 10-year blueprint substantially increase trade between the countries.’ The leaders have agreed to the roadmap’ a Malaysian Foreign Ministry Official involved in the negotiations said. The pact said, “It is a guideline for a vision and framework for enhancing cooperation. It covers sectors from investment, agriculture, energy, tourism, transportation, banking and finance. Malaysia’s central bank governor Zeti Aktar Aziz said the D-8 nations were now on track to achieve their goal of boosting their intra-grouping trade by 10 to 50 by 2018. The trade agreement from 2008 to 2018 details economic nations will pursue over the next decade.

To further promote economic ties, the D-8 members agreed to simplify visa procedures for business people from member states which will design to facilitate economic and trade relations. This point was raised by our Chief Adviser Dr. Fakruddin Ahmed who said, “ D-8 should take tangible measures so that people of the grouping could travel every country without visa. Against the backdrop of current global food crisis, we should establish a Food Fund to enhance our collective food security.” The D-8 forum was actually established by eight Organization of Islamic Conference member countries to share development and population characteristics to promote economic cooperation and development especially in agriculture, industry, energy and trade to enhance cooperation in areas such as trade, investment, rural development, human resource development, science and technology, agriculture and heath to improve the economic status of member states. The summit is held once in every two years discussing various economic issues facing the bloc countries. Last year total D-8 trade was $1 trillion and intra-trade was about $60billion. We believe this cooperation will open more opportunities for us. We should believe that the forum will continue to enhance economic cooperation in the true sense of the term in the present perspective of the changing global situation which has made severe hard days for the member states of the group mainly because of sky rocketing prices of commodities.

Our chief adviser Fakruddin Ahmed said in the summit, “ We need to develop mechanism not only to address short term supply of stocks but also strengthen cooperation to increase agricultural productivity.” He continued to call for establishing a D-8 Free Trade Area alongside making progress in forging a preferential Trade Agreement. Trading among these countries amount to 498$ which accounts only 9% of world trade. The figure definitely shows a poor picture which calls for reasonable enhancement. We should collectively explore and implement capacity building progress to ensure scarcity of the member states.” These important issues were touched and discussed in this the sixth summit of D-8 group.


The largest Asian business tiger Japan hosted the G-8 summit which comprise Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia and the United States and the key issues discussed and decided some key points. In respect of climate change which is one of the most burning issues of the present time. G8 leaders agreed on the need for the world to cut carbon emissions blamed for global warming by at least 50 percent by 2050 and for each nation to set its own target for a nearer term. But the European Commission president Jose Mnael Barroso defended the summit outcome. He said, “It is quite wrong to see this in terms of a confrontation between developed and developing countries. Of course, we accept the lions’ share of responsibility but this is a global challenge which requires a global response.” We also think so but the greater responsibilities go with these industrially developed countries. The initiative and pragmatic steps must be taken by them. Of course,this statement is a step forward from last years’ call to consider seriously such long-term cuts. But environmentalists and developing countries denounce the deal as toothless. Still we hope for the best. At least the rich countries have started to think of the point.

The leaders expressed ‘serious concern’ about rising food prices. They called on nations with sufficient food stocks to release some of them to help others cope with soaring prices and said it was imperative to remove export restrictions.” G8 leaders also called for an increase in oil production and refining capacities to help rein in soaring crude prices.

The nations renewed a commitment made three years ago to double aid for Africa to 25 billion dollars by 2010 and to look to further assistance after 2010. The leaders set a five-year deadline to commit 60 billion dollars in finding to help the continent fight disease, including pledging 100 million mosquito nets by 2010 which officials hoped would prevent thousands of deaths from malaria. They also vowed to resist protectionist pressures and expressed “strong will” to work toward a breakthrough in free trade talks.
G8 leaders voiced “grave concern’ about the violence –marred re-election last month of the president Robert Mugabe. They warned of further action including financial measures against individuals behind the violence and recommended a UN special envoy. The leaders urged Iran to end its uranium enrichment activities in line with UN Security Council resolutions and called on Tehran to respond positively to international mediation. They urged North Korea also to abandon nuclear weapons and cooperate in the verification of its dossier of nuclear programmes.

When the G-8 nations account for two-thirds of the world’s gross domestic product, it attaches utmost importance to boost world economy tilting towards the developing nations which are limping in poverty. Their discussion and promise must come true. As these leaders lord it over the decision making process of the globe, they must show a rational and neutral attitude towards all. Iran, India, North Korea and Israel must receive the same treatment from them. Their double standard role does not dangle any tangible solutions to the burning issues the globe.



Md. Masum Billah
Programme Manager: Brac Education Programme, PACE and regularly writes on various national and international issues.
Phone: 9355253 (home), 01715-401267 (cell)
Email: mmbillah2000@yahoo.com