Abuja Nigeria 26^th -27^th October 2022: The Developing -8 (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation with support from IsDB, held the first session of the D-8 Forum on Small and Medium Enterprises and Health Markets on 26 -27 October 2022 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The theme of the forum was reinventing health SMEs competitiveness in the D-8 Region.  Key personalities during the opening of the forum include: Amb. Zubairu Dada, Hon Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Amb. Isiaka Abdulqadir Imam, Secretary-General for D-8 Organization, H.E Mansudur Rahman, Bangladesh High commissioner in Nigeria, H.E Hidayat Bayraktar, Turkish Ambassador to Nigeria, Mr. Wale Fasanya, Director- General Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Dr Ezra Yakusak, Executive Director/CEO Nigerian Export Promotion Council (NEPC) and Dr. Ado Muhammed, Global Director, D-8 Health and Social Protection Program (HSP). IsDB was represented at the event by Ali Sen (Regional Hub, Abuja) and Dr. Ima Kashim (Cooperation and Capacity Development Department, HQ)

During the Forum, participants brainstormed on the role of health small and medium enterprises within the D-8 Member States and discussed the findings of the joint IsDB/D8 study on Therapeutic Goods and Health Markets (TGHMs) in the IsDB/D8 member countries. The Forum explored the D-8 SMEs and Health Markets landscape, identified challenges and strategies to reinvent a competitive market, and mapped opportunities for B2B and B2G collaboration and partnership.  A communique was drafted and will be released subsequently by the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Dr Ima Kashim from the Cooperation and Capacity Development Department flagged the need to develop a 5-year road map to achieve growth in TGHMs in the IsDB/D8 countries to address supply chain issues in a post-COVID world.  Ali Sen Operations Team Lead (SI), Regional Hub Abuja also noted that the study opened unique opportunities to monitor regional growth through the development of the homegrown composite index as presented in the study.

The Cooperation and Capacity Development Department also prepared a summary of the TGHMs study findings and the policy briefs which showcased the capacity gaps and opportunities for business linkages within the member countries.

Further information on the conference outcome is available on the link below:

https://nnn.ng/smedan-proposes-establishment-of-d-8-centre-on-smes/