The Developing-8 countries plan media excellence hub and a new broadcasting network

The inaugural D-8 Media Forum concluded in Baku, on Friday, it marked a continuation of the events of the D-8 Week in Azerbaijan. The Developing-8 Organisation for Economic Cooperation, known as the D-8, is strengthening its partnership with Azerbaijan, which became a full member in March 2025.

Though smaller than groups such as the G20 or the OIC, the D-8 serves as a coordinated platform for major developing Muslim-majority nations in global economic discussions. The organisation includes Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkey and now Azerbaijan. As a new member, Azerbaijan is working to integrate fully into the bloc, putting forward several initiatives, including plans for Transport Excellence and Energy and Climate Centres.

Creation of a Media Excellence Centre

The first D-8 Media Forum was expected to deliver significant outcomes, including the creation of a Media Excellence Centre and new strategies to counter disinformation and related threats. Around 150 delegates attended the event, among them 71 foreign representatives from member states and the D-8 Secretariat.

In President Ilham Aliyev’s address to forum participants, delivered on his behalf by Hikmat Hajiyev, Assistant to the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Head of the Department of Foreign Policy Affairs of the Presidential Administration of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Aliyev stressed that “one of the primordial tasks of the D-8 Media Forum is to form a credible collaboration between media institutions of member countries to build a just, impartial, non-biased and responsible information space”.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, D-8 Secretary General Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam noted that this forum marks one of the first major D-8 events hosted by Azerbaijan since it joined the organisation in March.

He said the proposed D-8 Media Excellence Centre “will help strengthen member states’ collective voice in the global information space”.

The Secretary General also proposed creating a Broadcasting Association for D-8 countries. “This will bring together broadcasting outfit, including both radio and television, for the exchange of programmes and news items, and promote the understanding and cultural background of D-8”, he said. If approved, the association would operate under the umbrella of the Media Excellence Centre.

Malaysia tightens media rules and regulations

In an interview with Euronews, Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin, CEO of Malaysia’s National News Agency BERNAMA, discussed the media challenges facing her country.

She confirmed that misinformation and disinformation are widespread on social media. “That's why the government of Malaysia is taking steps to cope with it by having a stringent rules and regulations, but this doesn't mean that the government is trying to control the media. The number of cases involving scams, pornography, pedophile and even cyber bulling is increasing”, Kamaludin added.

The D-8 countries together represent more than one billion people and several rapidly growing economies. Azerbaijan’s accession marks the first expansion of the organisation since it was established nearly thirty years ago.