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The main multi-lateral innovation of the Islamic world in the era of globalization has been the establishment of the Developing-8. The D-8 was established in response to an initiative submitted by Abrakan, the former Prime Minister of Turkey in 1997. Arbakan perceived globalization as having a negative impact the Islamic world, and argued that the alternative was to establish "a new unified and just Islamic world" led by Turkey. Arabian perceived this world as consisting of a common market, collective security system, and an origination for cultural cooperation. As soon as he came to power in 1996, Arbakan began to lobby some Islamic states to subscribe to his project. He visited some Islamic states and signed elaborate economic cooperation agreements with them. These countries were disillusioned with the limited success of the OIC in the field of economic cooperation. So, they endorsed Arabian's proposal to establish a new forum for economic cooperation. Understandably, Saudi Arabia did not join the D-8, as it seemed to compete with its own organization, the OIC.
In January 1996, Arbakan invited the countries he visited (Iran, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia, Egypt, and Nigeria) in addition to Bangladesh to establish an economic bloc, which could enable Muslims to deal with the pressures of the forces of globalization. On 10 June 1997, the heads of state of the eight countries met in Istanbul and issued the "Istanbul Declaration" which represented the birth certificate of the D-8 Group. The Declaration reiterated that the main goal of the Group was "social and economic development through the application of six main principles: peace, dialogue, cooperation, justice, equality, and democracy." The Declaration also asserted that membership in the Group would be open to all developing Islamic countries, which accept its principles, and established a secretariat based in Istanbul (10).
Although the D-8 Group was linked to the ideological project of Arbakan, and Malaysia was disillusioned with the outcomes of the first summit, the Group survived Arbakan's loss of power, and developed into a viable institution for neo-regional cooperation. In fact, the Turkish secular elite, which succeeded Arbakan, found it fit to keep Turkey commitment to the Group despite its animosity towards Arbakan's Islamist views. The Third summit of the D-8 Group was held in Cairo in February 2001.
The D-8 has an organizational structure, which consists of (I) the Summit meeting. This is the highest level of meetings among member countries. It convenes every two years, and is attended by heads of state and government. The second summit was held in Dhaka in March 1999, and the third summit was held in Cairo in February 200, (ii) The Ministerial Council. It includes the foreign ministers of the member states, studies the recommendations of the Commission, and raises its own recommendations to the Summit. The Ministerial Council is convened annually, preceding the Summit meetings in the year it is held and in parallel too the General Assembly meetings in New York in which the Summit is not held. The Council prepares the draft agenda for the Summit, (iii) the commission: It consists of a Commissioner from each member country and is considered the executive body of the Group. It studies the recommendations of the Expert Group Meetings and prepares the agenda for the ministerial Council along with the draft decisions to be raised to it. It meets twice a year; one of which is in parallel to the General Assembly sessions in New York; and (iv) The Executive Director: He is in charge of coordination and communication, and is considered the chairman of the coordination unit that is temporarily assuming the role of the D-8 Secretariat (11).
The D-8 Group focuses on specific projects to be implemented by the private sector with economic feasibility as the main criterion. Thus, the role of governments has been confined to the role of a facilitator, regulator, and eliminating obstacles. The D-8 is also an action-oriented Group. It has specified 10 fields of cooperation, each of which was entrusted to each member state. The fields and country coordinators are Trade (Egypt). Finance Banking, and Privatization (Malaysia), Manufacturing and Health (Turkey), Telecommunications and Information (Iran), Rural Development and Culture (Bangladesh), Agriculture including Aquaculture (Pakistan), Human resource Development and Poverty Eradication (Indonesia), and Energy (Nigeria).
The private sector plays an important role in the D-8 group. Most of the projects identified are given to the private sector to implement either at the national or trans-regional level. When the third summit was held in Cairo in February 2001, Egypt invite the Chambers of Commerce, Industry, and business associations of the member states to hold meetings parallel to the Cairo summit.
As the coordinator of the Finance, Banking, and Privatization sector, Malaysia held two training sessions in June 1999 and October 2000. The first was on Islamic banking transactions and the second dealt with Malaysia's 3expereicne in the field of the stock market. Malaysia also suggested turning the Malaysian ASEAN Retakaful International Co. Ltd (ARIL), into a corporation for the D-8 Group. The third Summit held in Cairo also decided to hold a training program on privatization led by Malaysia.
Egypt coordinates cooperation in the field of trade. Egypt has suggested establishing an international marketing and trade company to promote cooperation and skills in the fields of trade and marketing. A feasibility study is being conducted to assess this proposal. Egypt has also proposed to establish a Forum for Maritime Transport Experts and Ship Owners, and the standardization of baking procedures in the member states with a view of facilitating trade.
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