THE Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8) has proposed the establishment of its very first hightechnology industrial park in Malaysia by the end of 2020.
D-8 is a 22-year-old global organisation with its headquarters in Istanbul. It was established for “development cooperation” among eight countries stretching from Southeast Asia to Africa (Malaysia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey.
Its Secretary-General, Dato Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari said the organisation aims 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.
“From the very beginning D-8 has set a target to look into various sectors – trade, industries, agriculture, transportation, energy and tourism to improve the global economy of its member states.”
Present as one of the prominent keynote speaker at the MTCE 2019 hosted by MTDC, Ku Jaafar said the establishment of industrial parks in Malaysia is one of the measures to help improve Malaysia’s economic state by drawing in millions of foreign investment into Malaysia.
Despite still being at the proposal level, a Turkish company has stated interest in offering its sensor technology to the yet to be established industrial park.
Adding on, he also said a Turkish industrial park developer who was involved in developing six economic zones in Egypt has also expressed his interest in investing in the D-8 Industrial Park. D-8 is also looking at establishing other industrial parks in the member states as part of meeting the organisation’s objectives.
Ku Jaafar expressed his admiration for the efforts taken by MTDC to encourage start ups and intends to set up MTDC as an example to the D-8 member states.” He also said that MTDC would be one of D-8’s technology provider for its technology transfer programmes.
