SESRIC participated in the Youth Bridges Programme, organised by the Developing Eight (D-8) Organization for Economic Cooperation held on 12 August 2026 in Istanbul, Türkiye, in commemoration of International Youth Day. The programme aimed to equip young people with relevant skills, opportunities, and networks to launch entrepreneurial initiatives and contribute to the socio-economic development of their communities.

The event commenced with opening remarks by H.E. Ambassador Sohail MAHMOOD, Secretary-General of the D-8, who highlighted the increasing focus of D-8 Member States on youth engagement and empowerment. He stressed the importance of building the future with young people and called for greater investment in their skills, creativity, digital capabilities, and entrepreneurial potential, as well as stronger platforms for young people to connect across borders, exchange ideas, translate innovation into solutions for shared challenges, and seize new opportunities.

The event brought together students from D-8 Member States studying in Türkiye, with the participation of representatives from the Islamic Cooperation Youth Forum (ICYF), the United Nations Development Programme’s Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development (UNDP ICPSD), the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD), the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), and Informatics Valley (Bilişim Vadisi).

Mr. Muzamil EDEMA, Researcher at the Economic and Social Research Department, represented SESRIC at the event and delivered a presentation on the “State of Youth in OIC Countries,” highlighting key trends and challenges related to youth demography, health, education, and labour market conditions, as well as the potential of young people to contribute to entrepreneurship, innovation, and socio-economic development. He also presented OIC and SESRIC initiatives and activities aimed at supporting youth development, skills enhancement, and greater participation in economic and social life.

The pilot initiative, proposed by the Secretariat of the D-8 to mark International Youth Day, provided a platform for young participants to engage with relevant institutions and exchange perspectives on entrepreneurship, innovation, and regional cooperation. It also contributed to strengthening youth networks and raising awareness of opportunities for youth engagement within the D-8 region.