Baku: Ambassador Sohail Mahmood, Secretary-General of the Developing-8 Organization for Economic Cooperation (D-8), conducted his first official visit to the Republic of Azerbaijan from May 17-20, marking a significant step since he took office in January 2026. Invited by President Ilham Aliyev, the Secretary-General participated in the 13th Session of the World Urban Forum (WUF13) in Baku, engaged in the D-8 High-Level Energy and Urban Dialogue, and held discussions with senior Azerbaijani government officials.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, the Secretary-General was accompanied by a D-8 delegation, including Ambassador Mustafazcan, Director-I, and Mr. Muhammad Bilal Khan, Executive Assistant. The WUF13, a collaboration between the Government of Azerbaijan and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), was themed "Housing the World: Safe and Resilient Cities and Communities." This event further solidified Azerbaijan's role as a key player in international dialogues on climate action and sustainable urban development, following the successful COP29 in 2024. The forum drew participation from global leaders, experts, and stakeholders, with over 40,000 attendees registered from May 17-22, 2026.
During the D-8 High-Level Energy and Urban Dialogue, held at the Azerbaijan Pavilion, discussions revolved around 'Powering Sustainable Cities in the D-8 Region: Aligning Energy Transitions with Urban Development Agendas.' The Secretary-General highlighted the interconnectedness of urbanization and energy transition, emphasizing the substantial impact cities have on global GDP, energy consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. He pointed out the significant renewable energy potential and strategic advantages of D-8 countries, stressing the critical need for integrated urban energy planning and increased investment in climate-resilient infrastructure.
Ambassador Sohail Mahmood proposed a five-pronged approach to address these challenges, focusing on cooperation in energy transition and urban development. He stressed the importance of digital governance, South-South cooperation, investment in infrastructure, and unified positioning of D-8 Member States in global platforms. The Secretary-General also suggested initiatives to incentivize sustainable urban transformation, including the designation of 'Sustainable D-8 City of the Year.'
A key outcome of the visit was the advancement of three D-8 Centers of Excellence in Baku, focused on Energy and Climate, Transport, and the Media. These centers aim to bolster South-South cooperation and capacity-building among D-8 Member States in crucial areas like renewable energy and sustainable urban development.
In his meetings with Azerbaijani officials, including Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President, and Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, the Secretary-General discussed Azerbaijan's growing role in D-8 and the organization's strategic direction. They deliberated on enhancing economic cooperation, ongoing reforms to strengthen the D-8 Secretariat, and preparations for the upcoming D-8 Summit in Jakarta, highlighting Azerbaijan's positive momentum within the organization.