D‑8 chief holds key talks at Istanbul Stratcom summit

Sohail Mahmood, secretary-general of the Developing Eight (D‑8) Organization for Economic Cooperation, conducted a series of diplomatic engagements during the International Strategic Communication (Stratcom) Summit 2026, held in Istanbul on March 27-28. Organized by Türkiye’s Communications Directorate, the summit provided a platform for Mahmood to hold bilateral talks aimed at strengthening cooperation across the eight-member bloc. His participation underscored the growing importance of strategic communication in enhancing the organization’s global visibility.

Strengthening ties with Türkiye

During the summit, Mahmood met with Burhanettin Duran, Türkiye’s Communications Director, to discuss avenues for deeper collaboration in public diplomacy and strategic communication. Mahmood emphasized the significance of the discussions held at the summit in addressing shared global challenges, noting that the D‑8 and Türkiye’s Communications Directorate should explore joint initiatives to amplify their outreach. For Türkiye, which hosted the summit, the meetings reaffirmed Ankara’s role as a key hub for multilateral cooperation among developing nations.

Media cooperation with Bangladesh

Mahmood also held talks with Bangladesh’s Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Zahir Uddin Swapon, focusing on enhancing media collaboration among D‑8 member countries. The secretary-general highlighted the critical role of media in expanding the organization’s regional and international presence, stressing that stronger information networks would help raise awareness of D‑8 initiatives. The discussion reflected a broader push to align communication strategies across the bloc’s diverse member states.

Azerbaijan media center initiative

In a separate meeting, Mahmood convened with Ahmad Ismayilov, chairman of Azerbaijan’s Media Development Agency, to review progress on a planned Media Center of Excellence to be established in Azerbaijan under the D‑8 framework. The initiative aims to bolster institutional capacity and facilitate knowledge exchange among media organizations, news agencies, and communication platforms across member states. Mahmood underscored that enhanced cooperation in these areas would improve information flow and strengthen the overall capacity of the organization. The Stratcom summit served as a backdrop for these engagements, highlighting Istanbul’s position as a strategic venue for dialogue on communication and media development.