Baku Hosts D-8 Media Forum to Strengthen Dialogue, Cooperation, and Regional Cohesion

Baku, The Gulf Observer: The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation Media Forum, convened under the theme “Fostering Dialogue, Collaboration, and Regional Cohesion,” opened in the Azerbaijani capital with the participation of heads of national media institutions, major media organizations from D-8 member countries, senior officials, and leading experts.

Hikmet Hajiyev, Head of the Foreign Policy Affairs Department of the Presidential Administration of Azerbaijan, delivered President Ilham Aliyev’s address to the participants at the opening ceremony.

In his remarks, D-8 Secretary-General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam underscored the importance of strengthening cooperation in media and communication sectors alongside the organization’s economic agenda. He commended Azerbaijan’s contributions as a new member, noting that “the roadmap was defined at the D-8 High-Level Climate and Urban Dialogue held last month.” Imam described the hosting of the first D-8 Media Forum in Baku as a significant milestone for the organization.

The Secretary-General highlighted ongoing efforts to bolster the D-8’s global media presence by establishing a general broadcasting association, journalism schools, and scholarship programs aimed at developing a center of excellence for media development across member states.

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Attaullah Tarar, praised Azerbaijan’s active role in strengthening the institutional framework of the D-8. He pointed to major global transformations driven by rapid technological advancements — including artificial intelligence and quantum computing — as well as emerging geopolitical dynamics. Tarar noted that as traditional media faces declining public trust, the rise of digital media ecosystems has become increasingly critical.

Other distinguished speakers — including Noor Md Mahbubul Haq, Additional Secretary of the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting of Bangladesh; Essam El-Amir, Deputy Chairman of Egypt’s Supreme Council for Media Regulation; 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 at Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs; and Bora Bayraktar, Head of Strategic Communication and Crisis Management at Türkiye’s Presidency’s Directorate of Communications — emphasized the importance of closer coordination among member states to advance dialogue, cooperation, and shared media development goals.

They noted that with its substantial human resources, economic capability, and rich cultural diversity, the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation is well-positioned to serve not only as a regional platform but as a body with global influence. The Forum, they said, reflects the friendship, solidarity, and mutual trust among member countries, while underscoring media development as a strategically essential pillar of cooperation.

The Forum continued with a series of thematic panel sessions.