Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has emphasised the need for establishing a D 8 Free trade area. Addressing the seventh summit meeting of the Developing 8 countries in the Nigerian Capital of Abuja today , Sheikh Hasina said that four D-8 member countries have signed bilateral free trade agreements with each other and with the Doha Round remaining elusive, w truly need a mechanism within our capacity for a D-8 Free Trade Area. Stressing on the need for removing tariff and para-tariff barriers for active trade and economic cooperation among the D-8 countries, she said trade is an important component for development but trade between D 8 countries has been disappointing despite the group having a combined market of nearly one billion people. She added that the obstacles created due to lack of harmonization in standards and uniform sets of criteria in testing of quality are responsible for increasing tariff and para-tariff barriers and hindering trade expansion in the D-8 nations. She said political commitment and meaningful cooperation of the private sectors can provide an the impetus to harness the combined potential of the member countries to realize the shared goal of a prosperous future. The D8 comprises eight countries namely Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey and this years D-8 summit in Nigeria is focussed on the theme Enhancing Investment Cooperation among D-8 Members.