Trade ministers from the Developing-8 (D-8) group adopted the Cairo Trade Declaration at the conclusion of their ministerial meeting held on December 2, 2025, marking a major step toward deeper economic cooperation and expanded preferential trade among member states, Egypt’s Investment Minister Hassan El-Khatib announced. Read it on Kohan Textile Journal.
D-8 Ministers Adopt Cairo Declaration, Advance Preferential Trade Talks
The ministers approved reports submitted by the group’s supervisory and expert committees and endorsed the terms of reference for negotiations on a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA). The move signals a coordinated effort to modernize and strengthen economic ties across the D-8 bloc.
El-Khatib said the latest outcomes are a continuation of commitments made at the D-8 Cairo Summit in December 2024, where members agreed to shift focus from political coordination toward “tangible economic initiatives.” These include trade facilitation, SME support, and cooperation in technology and artificial intelligence.
Focus on Preferential Trade, Business Cooperation and Regional Integration
The ministers agreed to accelerate the implementation of the D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) and enhance the customs mechanisms linked to it, describing the PTA as a key driver for boosting intra-group trade.
Progress was also reported on the establishment of a new D-8 Business Forum, which is designed to attract joint investments and connect business leaders across member states to identify projects in priority economic sectors.
El-Khatib highlighted Egypt’s intention to leverage its strategic geographic location, advanced logistics infrastructure, and special economic zones to facilitate greater regional integration between Africa and Asia.
He also expressed appreciation to the D-8 Secretariat, led by Secretary-General Ambassador Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, for organizing the meeting, and praised member states for their “constructive engagement” and continued confidence in Egypt’s chairmanship of the group.
