"Indonesia has been appointed to host the Third Ministerial Meeting of D-8 in 2012," Yulistyo Mudho, the head of the marine affairs and fisheries ministry`s statistic data center, said here Wednesday.
The decision to let Indonesia host next year`s D-9 ministerial meeting was made at the D-8 Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) held in Tehran, May 17, 2011.
At the SOM, the Indonesian delegation was led by the agriculture ministry`s research and development unit head, Dr Haryono.
The Second D-8 Ministerial Meeting is to be held on May 18, when Indonesian Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Fadel Muhammad is to lead the Indonesian delegation.
"At the meeting this time, all D-8 member countries are committed to increasing the role of the private sector," Yulistyo said.
Minister Fadel earlier said Indonesia would submit project cooperation proposals to boost trade among the D-8 member states.
The proposals include harmonization of fishery safety and quality guarantee systems, certification of fish catch results, and promotion of investment in Indonesia`s small islands.
Fadel said Indonesia will also encourage the establishment of a Working Group on Marine Affairs and Fisheries (WGMAF).
Indonesia is the largest fishery product exporters among the D-8 member states.
In 2007, the country exported fishery products worth 43,627 million US dollars to the D-8 members. Pakistan is in the second place with fishery product exports valued at 7,145 million US dollars, and Malaysia at 3,193 million US dollars.
In November 2010, Indonesia`s fishery product exports to all D-8 member states increased to over 78 million US dollars.
D-8 is a regular forum for development cooperation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
The establishment of D-8 was announced officially through the Istanbul Declaration of Summit of Heads of State/Government on June 15, 1997.
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.
(Uu.F001/HAJM)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
