RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - As Indonesia prepares to host the Developing Eight (D-8) Summit in Jakarta next April, 2026, Malaysia has pledged full support for Jakarta’s 2026-2027 chairmanship while urging greater focus on strengthening micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across member states.

Malaysian Ambassador to Indonesia, Dato' Syed Mohamad Hasrin Tengku Hussin, said Kuala Lumpur views trade and investment, particularly involving MSMEs, as a key priority to be advanced during Indonesia’s leadership of the economic bloc.

“Malaysia’s industrial strength is generally supported by MSMEs. Therefore, we want the D-8 to play a role in strengthening the potential of MSMEs in our country, as well as MSMEs in other D-8 countries,” Ambassador Hasrin said in Jakarta on Tuesday, March 2, as quoted by Antara.

Malaysia has consistently encouraged increased trade and investment among D-8 members by optimizing preferential trade agreements and promoting business-to-business collaboration through dedicated forums, he added.

MSME development forms part of one of Indonesia’s five priority areas during its D-8 chairmanship, particularly under connectivity and the digital economy. Other priorities include economic and trade integration, halal economic development, the blue economy and green transition, as well as the organization’s internal reform agenda.

“We believe Indonesia’s priorities are appropriate and highly relevant,” the ambassador said, expressing hope that the D-8 would deliver tangible economic benefits for all member states and help Malaysia and its partners grow further.

He also expressed confidence that Indonesia’s successful ASEAN chairmanship in 2023 demonstrates its readiness to lead the D-8.

“Malaysia will support Indonesia’s chairmanship to ensure that the summit is not only successfully convened, but that D-8 provides a pathway for its members to cooperate in strengthening their economic resilience,” he explained.

The D-8 is an economic cooperation grouping established in 1997 by eight developing countries -- Indonesia, Bangladesh, Egypt, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Türkiye, with Azerbaijan joining as the ninth member in 2025.

Indonesia’s current chairmanship carries the theme, “Navigating Global Shifts: Strengthening Equality, Solidarity and Cooperation for Shared Prosperity,” reflecting a push for adaptation to global economic dynamics, inclusivity and resilience. ***