President Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday night left Abuja for Islamabad, Pakistan to participate in the summit of Heads of State and Government of the Group of Eight Developing Nations (D-8).
Jonathan was seen off at the Presidential wing of Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, around 11.57 p.m. by Ministers of FCT, Sen. Bala Muhammad and Mrs Olajumoke Akinjide.
Others at the airport were the Ministers of Police Affairs, retired Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade, the Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Edem Duke and the Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Muhammad Abubakar, among other top government officials.
The president was accompanied on the trip by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga and the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi.
Besides participating in the summit of the D-8, Jonathan will also hold bilateral meetings in Islamabad with the Presidents of Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Egypt whose countries also belong to the group.
The 2012 Islamabad Summit which coincided with the 15 years of existence of the group is expected to enhance member-countries’ share in global trade by 15 per cent by 2018.
The D-8 countries’ share in global trade was reported to have increased from 67 billion dollars in 2008 to 137 billion dollars in 2011.
Other Heads of State and Government expected at the Islamabad Summit, which opens on Wednesday, are Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, Susilo Yudhoyomo of Indonesia, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of Iran and Prime Minister Recep Erdogan of Turkey.
Malaysia is expected to be represented by its Deputy Prime Minister and Bangladesh by its foreign affairs minister.
The D-8 group was established in 1997 to foster developmental cooperation among member-countries which are Nigeria, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Pakistan, Malaysia, Turkey, Iran and Egypt. (NAN)