Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has suggested that the D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation countries consider introducing a common currency to enhance mutual trade, as reported during a meeting with trade ministers of the D-8 nations in Dhaka.
"It would be highly beneficial if they could adopt a common currency, drawing inspiration from the European Union, to facilitate trade among our countries. My objective is to elevate the welfare and socio-economic status of our people. This is achievable only if we can fortify mutual trade. By strengthening our trade, we can reduce our dependency on others," Business Standard quoted Hasina as stating.
The D-8 trade ministers' meeting in Dhaka centered on discussing preferential trade agreements. The delegates agreed on a target to increase mutual trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from the current $146 billion.
The D-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation, established in 1997, comprises eight countries predominantly populated by Muslims - Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, and Turkey. The idea of establishing a common currency among the D-8 countries has been a recurring topic, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan previously advocating for the use of national currencies for this purpose.
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Photo: Jason DeCrow/AP/TASS
Based on materials from TASS