The meeting in Tehran was a follow-up of the D-8 first meeting in Malaysia in February 2009.
Fadels` presence in the second meeting in Tehran was to improve Indonesian role in D-8 organization, especially in the maritime and fishery sector as a pillar in food resilience effort.
As a "prime mover" mandated in the previous ministerial meeting, Indonesia would have an opportunity to propose cooperation projects, namely the improvement of "inter trade" among D-8 member countries, harmonized system of quality assurance and safety of fishery products, certification of catches, and investment promotion at small islands in Indonesia.
At the meeting this time in Tehran, Indonesia would encourage the ratification of the establishment of the Working Group on Marine Affairs and Fisheries (WGMAF).
D-8, also known as Developing-8, is an arrangement for development cooperation among the following countries: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
The D-8 ministerial meeting was was preceded by working group discussion (WGD) on food standards, marine and fisheries, animal feed, fertilizer and seed bank.
In the WGMAF, Indonesia would propose several ideas on aquaculture, marine tourism, coastal area disaster mitigation, marine conservation and sustainable small islands development.
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 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.
Indonesia concerned about the existence of the d-8 organization as a potential market in the future.
To date Indonesia is the largest exporter of fishery products among D-8 member countries.
The export of Indonesia`s fishery products to D-8 countries in 2007 amounted US$43,627 million, followed by Pakistan US$7.145 million and Malaysia US$3.193 million.
As of November 2010, Indonesia`s fishery exports to D-8 rose to US$78 million.
(O001)
Editor: Suryanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
